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S.T.E.P.S. PROGRAM

DESCRIPTION

Bryce House Foster Care would like to introduce you to our Foster Care Semi-Independence Program called S.T.E.P.S.

S.T.E.P.S. stands for Semi-independence Living Through Empowerment, Progress and Skills. The Program was developed for those youth in care requiring a stepping-stone between Semi-independent living and independent living. Its purpose is to provide youth aged 16 years who are under the Care of the Ottawa Children's Aid Society with a program in which they can develop skills to live independently. All of the youth who are referred to the program will be involved directly with the PIP Program offered by the Ottawa Children's Aid Society.

Criteria for being a Mentor

  • 21 years of age
  • Doctor's note stating you're fit to foster
  • Criminal record check
  • Live in a suitable and safe residence
  • Stable family environment
  • Can be single, married, divorced, common-law, heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian
  • Have own biological children in the household

Steps involved in becoming a Mentor

Step 1: Send us a request via email or by telephone
Step 2: We will call with 2 business days of receiving your request
Step 3: Pre-screening application with the co-ordinator to discuss that basic requirements are met
Step 4: Mini-Home Study to be completed by a consulting agency
Step 5: Placement of youth

Housing

The youth will live in a house with a mentor (Foster Parent) and another youth (a Max of 2 youth in a program). The mentor will provide guidance and varying levels of supervision for the youth. There will be a Child and Youth Worker assigned to the youth upon intake. The Youth Worker will work with the youth weekly to accomplish life skills goals that will be established on intake, 90 days and 6 months.

About the youth in care

The Youth’s Profile:

  • 16 years of age and up;
  • Enrolled in or referred to the PIP program;
  • Attending an academic program;
  • Employed or actively seeking employment;
  • Demonstrated motivation to be in the program.

All youth who are referred to this program will be referred or directly involved with the Preparation for Independence Program (PIP) offered by the Ottawa Children’s Aid Society. The youth will live in a house with a mentor who will provide guidance and varying levels of supervision for the youth.

The youth is responsible for providing their own hygiene supplies, clothing, entertainment, transportation and telephone costs with an allotted monthly spending and clothing allowance. The program focuses on teaching the youth to budget their money and is intended to reflect the reality of the youth living alone and paying bills. The youth will be responsible for cooking 4 meals a month for themselves and their mentors.

Services provided to the Mentors and the youths

There will be a Child and Youth Worker assigned to both the youth and mentor upon intake. The youth worker will work with the youth weekly to accomplish life skills goals, established on intake. The development and effectiveness of these goals will be monitored through:

  • Plans of Care;
  • Weekly/monthly monitoring of goals;
  • Assessments & Reports.

Mentors will receive a daily per diem for the youth to help cover housing costs and household bills as well sa food for the youth.