The Hub Home is an experienced, licensed foster home who supports six to 10 foster and/or kinship families in their community. The Hub Home plays the role of a grandparent bringing together families and young people for monthly gatherings while providing ongoing support, mentorship, and respite.
A Satellite Home is a licensed foster home or kinship caregiver with an approved home study that is part of a Mockingbird Family.
The Constellation is made up of a Hub Home and six to 10 Satellite Homes close by. The constellation structure acts like an extended family, promoting stability and positive outcomes for both young people experiencing foster care and the families supporting them.
An Enhanced Constellation prioritizes supporting young people most in need of a stable home who have experienced five or more placement changes since coming into care.
Young People within a Constellation receive additional support from the Hub Home and opportunities to connect and normalize experiences with other youth and adults through the extended family network.
Parents and Guardians of young people placed in the Constellation are supported throughout the reunification process and may stay connected to the Constellation for continued support.
The MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Liaison is the connection between the Constellation and their local office. They provide support, supervision, and are the point of contact for the Hub Home. The Mockingbird Liaison is an employee of the Host Agency (DCYF). If the Host Agency is a Child Placing Agency (CPA) the Liaison is employed by the CPA.
The Host Agency is the organization (DCYF) that contracts with The Mockingbird Society (TMS) to implement the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY TM model. CPA’s can also contract with TMS to become host agencies.
Goals
- Keep young people in their community and connected to family while experiencing foster care
- Support reunification and permanency
- Build natural supports for young people and caregivers through a fostering community
- Increase connections and relationships for young people experiencing foster care
- Increase support to caregivers and provide respite
- Build diverse Constellations of caregivers, including kinship that reflect the diversity of the young people and communities served
- Increase placement resources for young people experiencing placement instability
- Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and LGBTQIA+ affirming care and support for young people experiencing foster care
Benefits
- Access to respite, training, mentoring, and community resources
- Monthly gatherings and social events
- Increased connections for caregivers, youth, and families
- More opportunities for sibling visits and reunification support
- Normalizing experiences for young people experiencing foster care
- Monthly payments for Hub Homes
