How We Help

At Indiana MENTOR, we believe that children belong in families and deserve to live in homes where they can feel safe, valued and loved. In our Therapeutic Foster Care program, we match youth of all ages with dedicated foster parents, who we call “Mentors.” We call our foster parents Mentors because they do so much more than provide homes to children and adolescents in need. They help them grow and learn, forever changing their lives.

With the help of our expert staff, Mentors provide individualized treatment and support to help children with complex emotional or behavioral challenges succeed – wherever their life journeys take them.

Individualized Treatment and Support

Our Therapeutic Foster Care program begins with an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) for each child. We take time to understand each child’s past, the challenges they are facing and their goals for the future. From there, we work with their Mentors, referring case managers, family members and guardians to develop services that meet their unique needs. Our Therapeutic Foster Care program offers a range of comprehensive supports, including:

• Individualized Service Plans (ISPs)
• Case management
• Weekly individualized counseling
• Therapy with the child, Mentor and members of the child’s family of origin, when appropriate
• Psychological evaluations and consultation
• Psychiatric services
• Medication management
• Advocacy and support for court and school systems
• 24-hour emergency on-call services
• Skill development and ongoing education opportunities for foster parents
• Program oversight and continuous quality improvement

Family Vistas^® Model

Our Therapeutic Foster Care program is based on Family Vistas,^® our trauma-informed clinical model. The model recognizes that every child is walking their own path, with a unique vision for their lives, and emphasizes the healing effects of family relationships. Under Family Vistas, our specially trained staff conduct comprehensive clinical assessments to identify a child’s strengths and create personalized treatment plans.

With the support of their Mentor foster parents, children learn to build coping skills to help them overcome challenges, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and problems in school and chart a hopeful path for their lives. Our dedicated treatment teams work with our Mentors and the family of origin, when appropriate, to help each child reach the destination of their choosing – whether it’s reunification with their biological family, adoption or independent living.