Fostering Excellence is an MPP initiative to reinvent our foster care program based on the latest evidence on successful practices for dealing with childhood trauma, incorporating biological families and kinship networks in our work, and broadening our network of partnerships.
Trauma-Informed Awareness and Programming
Our focus on handling the profound trauma associated with childhood abuse and neglect centers on training of both case managers and foster parents in trauma-informed awareness and trauma-responsive practices. These practices focus on recognizing the long-term consequences of trauma and shaping both current practices and future plans to be sensitive to these long-term effects. More information can be found at http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/trauma-interventions.
The MPP Clinical Team has been active in several training networks:
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – http://www.nctsn.org/
- SAMSA Train the Trainer on Trauma Informed Practice sponsored by Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore training – http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/training-technical-assistance
- Professional development trainings with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a leading international authority on trauma treatment and founder of NCTSN – http://www.traumacenter.org/about/about_bessel.php
Engaging Biological Families and Kinship Networks
Biological families are historically the disenfranchised but essential member of the treatment team in foster care. The biological family and the broader kinship network are the most enduring and versatile social support for foster children during and after placement.
Our Fostering Excellence Initiative requires that we seize all opportunities for engagement and strengthening of our young people’s biological families and kinship networks. MPP staff provide practical support for foster and biological families including linkages with community-based services and resources outside of foster care. This helps foster children with current service and helps biological families become empowered and responsible consumers.
Most family networks have experience and relationships with caring and effective service providers in their communities. When they do not we must bring this information to them and support them in establishing relationships with the assets in their communities essential to long term wellbeing of children and adults.
Strengthening Our Partnerships
MPP believes that strong partnerships are vital to achieving its mission. To this end, MPP is active in the following networks and partnerships:
- The Thriving Communities Collaborative dedicated to community knowledge and awareness of trauma, resilience and community solutions collaboration – http;//www.thrivebmore.org/
- Collaboration with Center Stage to bring dramatic arts involvement as opportunities for healing and personal growth to trauma affected foster children – http://www.centerstage.org/Education.aspx
MPP is eager to collaborate and pursue collective impact strategies with other family service organizations in foster care and other allied health and mental health agencies as we move forward to transform ourselves to meet the current and future needs of families, children and communities.