Young people placed in a Satellite Home will experience enhanced support, and opportunities to maintain current connections to family, culture and community and opportunities to build new connections though a supportive extended family like network. Young people will have opportunities to engage in monthly social gatherings where they can interact with other young people experiencing foster care and can initiate respite with a caregiver they know and trust.
Foster homes who join a Constellation will enjoy the benefits of building relationships and being in community with peers who understand them and their youth’s unique situations. Additionally, Satellite Homes benefit from support, mentoring and training opportunities from the Hub Home and other Satellite Homes.
Yes, Hub Homes receive payments to cover the cost of activities, monthly gatherings, time dedicated to support, mentor and provide respite to families and youth in the Constellation, and to complete monthly reporting and additional requirements needed to maintain compliance.
Hub Homes for Enhanced Constellations are paid at a higher rate because they are required to have a higher level of experience, have additional requirements and will likely need to dedicate more time to support families and young people within the Constellations.
- Hub Homes in Enhanced Constellations will receive $4,500 (taxable income) per month.
To be a Hub Home for an Enhanced Constellation, you must:
- Be a licensed foster parent for a minimum of two youth, ages 0-18
- Maintain two open beds for respite
- Host monthly Constellation gatherings and social activities
- Provide support and mentorship to families and youth in the constellation
- Provide planned and emergency respite
- Complete monthly reports and maintain standards
- Recruit for Satellite Homes within the community
- Build relationships and connections with local DCYF Placement Teams
- Support placement stability through crisis response, intervention, and service navigation
- Have experience working with young people who previously or currently qualify for intensive resources and support (ex. Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) or Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe))
- Complete additional training to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and LGBTQIA+ affirming and accepting care and mentorship to families and youth in the Constellation.
Currently, statewide expansion of MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY TM will focus on Enhanced Constellations that serve young people most in need of stability and the kinship and foster families caring for them. The launch of Enhanced Constellations will be prioritized over the launch of traditional Constellations. Check back for updates on a timeline for the launch of traditional Constellations.
In a Constellation it is important to create an extended family experience not only for the Satellite Homes, but also the young people involved. Young people in Constellations can stay at the Hub Home for overnights (like spending a night at a grandparent’s house) or at another Satellite Home to spend time with young people within the Constellation.
The Hub Home will provide scheduled respite and crisis respite as requested but there is also an opportunity for flexibility and typical childhood experiences. Young people can also request respite within the Constellation with a caregiver they know and trust.
The goal of MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ is to build a support structure that helps young people in meaningful ways and develops the caregivers as a family unit, working together to meet the unique needs of young people experiencing foster care. The structure is designed to fill any system gaps and provide young people and their caregivers with a supportive community focused on safety, permanency, and wellbeing through placement stability, sibling connections, and birth family involvement.
Complete the inquiry form and a Mockingbird Liaison in your area will reach out to you with more information.
