September/October, 2002

MARE Contract Renew: Program Changes Ahead

We are pleased to announce the three-year renewal of the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) contract beginning October 1, 2002. Since its inception in 1988, MARE has evolved from a “recruitment tool of last resort” to an integral part of the state adoption system. MARE has been a national leader in mandatory photolisting and tracking of adoption-eligible children, and has served as a model for other Adoption Exchanges throughout the United States.

During the next Fiscal Year the MARE program will undergo significant changes relating to inquiries regarding children in the MARE photolisting book and web site. In February 2001 the Family Independence Agency and MARE initiated a pilot project to determine the feasibility of the MARE office providing intake services on all inquiries regarding children appearing in the photolisitng book and website (as opposed to the current practice of individual agency workers receiving inquiries.) At the direction of FIA, and with the cooperation of five selected adoption agencies, MARE began providing intake services for the selected agency’s children on the website only. During that time MARE and FIA have had ongoing dialogue regarding the benefits and challenges of changing the MARE system (including the MARE photolisting book) to include intake services.

As part of the recent contract renewal, it has been determined that the MARE program will begin providing intake services regarding all children listed in the photolisting book and on the website. This change will be initiated during the new three-year contract cycle and will likely be implemented sometime during 2003.

A working committee of adoption agency supervisor/staff and FIA Central Office personnel was convened in mid-September to continue discussing the implications of this change. The new intake system will not be implemented overnight, and will only happen after further discussion with the FIA Adoption Services office and input from the working committee. Further information regarding this expected MARE program change will be forthcoming in future editions of Recruitment News.

Pre-Adoption Training Schedule - 2003

The Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange has set its schedule of Pre-Adoption Orientation and Training sessions for the year 2003. The orientation and training sessions are intended for families who may be interested in adopting older children waiting in foster care (not infant or international adoptions), and who have little or no experience in raising children from the child welfare system (i.e. not experienced foster and/or adoptive parents.) Using a curriculum called Parents As Tender Healers (PATH), the 11-1/2 hour training (7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Friday evening and 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday) introduces families to the idea of adopting children from the child welfare system. Families will begin to understand the needs of these children and will also begin to identify their own unique qualities as potential adoptive families.

The training and orientation session is offered FREE to families (including overnight accommodations on Friday, if needed, and lunch on Saturday.) Participants must register in advance and receive a confirmation letter in order to attend. Based on past experience, it should be noted that the training sessions fill up one to two months in advance! Please keep this in mind and plan accordingly.

The training dates and locations for 2003 are as follows:

For more information, contact Steve York of MARE at (517) 783-6273, ext. 236

The Montcalm School

An Alternative Residential Program

Post-adoption support services often play a critical role in helping keep adoptive families together through the inevitable crises that occur. When an out-of-home placement becomes necessary, families (and workers) have the daunting task of finding a residential setting that will best meet their child’s needs. One such program is The Montcalm School at Starr Commonwealth in Albion, Michigan - a unique residential program using a “strength-based” educational and treatment approach for males age 12 - 18.

Located on Starr Commonwealth’s beautiful 350-acre campus just west of Jackson, The Montcalm School is referred to as “therapeutic boarding school” by Norm Ostrum, Dean of Students. “The approach is much like residential treatment,” says Ostrum. “However, where traditional residential programs focus primarily on ‘treatment,’ here we also focus heavily on the education component.” While not originally designed specifically for adopted youth, the program found that more and more of the students they were accepting had been adopted and were dealing with adoption issues. After doing an internal “needs assessment” study, it was determined that the program could naturally grow to include addressing the specific needs of adopted youths and their families. Similar programs have begun operating in places such as Utah and other western states; however, Ostrum says that The Montcalm School is “the only program like this in the Midwest.” While not criticizing these other out-of-state programs Ostrum feels that the needs of these youths and their families can be addressed closer to home. “Why should we send our children to Utah when we have everything right here?”

Because many of the students have extensive histories of academic frustrations and behavioral problems, and because of their varied skills and abilities, each student receives an asset-based behavioral and educational assessment upon entering the school. Parents, teachers, peers, and the treatment team determine an individualized course of treatment. Each student’s individual academic curriculum may mirror that of their local school district and can include high school credits, college prep courses, and in some cases, classes at a local high school or community college. Opportunities for art, music, and sports/physical education round out the more “structured” educational environment at Montcalm; however, education does not stop at the end of the school day. “We believe that learning takes place everywhere,” says Ostrum. “That’s why we offer many opportunities for Service Learning Projects that allow our students to feel part of the larger community. They learn to relate to all kinds of people and to put their own problems and issues in perspective.” Whether it’s mowing lawns for senior citizens, helping physically challenged children at a horse riding program, or assisting with Special Olympics, the students feel like they can make a difference in someone’s life which can be a significant boost to their own self-esteem.

The Montcalm School operates on a philosophy of creating a “positive peer culture” where interpersonal relationships and peer group treatment work together to change students’ behavior and life values. Peer group meetings are held five days a week for 90 minutes and are considered to be the central or “sacred” focus of the treatment day. It is within the peer group that students are able to honestly discuss their struggles and successes while encouraging and challenging their peers to continue working toward their own treatment goals.

As part of the residential experience Students live with their peer group in homes called “cottages” where they continue strengthening social and living skills by working together in preparing meals, doing laundry, completing chores, and spending free time together.

The Montcalm School also puts a great deal of emphasis on parental/family involvement in the treatment program. Parents are invited to visit up to two weekends per month and regular phone calls, and letters or e-mail are also strongly recommended. The therapists and other team members are also available to parents for consultation on a regular basis.

The Montcalm School is a 9-month, self-referred program operating on a year-round “rolling enrollment” schedule. Students can start virtually any time of the year. The cost is approximately $6,000 per month or about $200 per day. In some cases these expenses may be covered by Adoption Subsidy. For more information about The Montcalm School, contact Norm Ostrum, Dean of Students, at (866) 244-4321 or visit The Montcalm School website at www.montcalmschool.org

In Lenawee County Wendy's "Kicks it Up For Kids"

Lenawee County has enjoyed a remarkable partnership with local Wendy’s Restaurants, successfully promoting adoption for dozens of families. Through this partnership foster and adoptive families have been empowered to do what they do best: provide quality homes for children.

For the past two years the local Wendy’s Restaurants have promoted the “Kick It Up For Kids” campaign whereby customers may add $.50 to their order to provide financial support to adoptive families. In that time, over $5,300 has been raised for the lenawee County Foster and Adoptive parent Association (LCFAPA). Even more importantly, this represents increased adoption awareness for 10,765 people in Lenawee County.
The Lenawee County Wendy’s have also offered the use of their restaurants to host receptions for families to celebrate each completed adoption, and they continue to support Lenawee FIA and LCFAPA in their summer weekend camping experience for foster and adoptive families.

The adoption celebrations, weekend camp, and “Kick It Up For Kids” campaign all serve to promote adoption and expanding the number of available families for children needing adoption. Thanks to Lenawee County FIA’s partnership with Wendy’s, dozens of children now have families to call their own. For more information about the summer weekend camp (which is not limited to Lenawee County residents), contact Jim Criste of Lenawee County FIA, at (517) 264-6447.