SHS

Each residential location is a separate program; however, all programs share resources and are managed by the Summit Human Services Inc. management team. We have included a brief description of each home and will continue to update this as our resources expand.

Staff: Rotational staff with an on-site House Supervisor also with an additional support worker for the evening routine, based on occupancy levels.

Type of Home: Short-term and long-term placement for coe-ed teens: 13-17 years of age.

Large 2900+ sq.ft., two story older home recently renovated on a large lot located in the north west part of the city. There are five bedrooms so each child has his/her own room. The staff office is on the same floor as the bedroms. The home is very spacious and has a large dining room, kitchen, living room, recreation room, with two full bathrooms and a two piece bathroom off the dining room. There is also an attached two-car garage, work area and laundry area.

All Residential Youth Workers have post secondary education in a human services program or in a health care program. The primary workers are female but male youth workers may be called in for support as to provide the home with opportunity for cross-gender relationship building and trusting. All RYW's are trained and certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).

Staff work 12 hrs shifts, with an overnight awake staff. Additional staff support is provided based on the home's occupancy rate. The staff/youth ratio is 3to7. The Team Leader works on site full time.

Co-ed residents between the ages of 13 and 17, who can benefit from a structured but warm and caring environment. Difficult to serve, socially, behavioral, and emotionally challenged children who can function within a community based environment. Older teenagers with attachment issues in need of life skills for independent living will benefit from this home's program. We are not able to provide care for Young Offenders serving custody or detention orders. We are also unable to provide care for known sexual offenders, fire setters, or extremely violent children, however each case will be assessed individually.

Household activities include swimming at the local recreation centers and local beaches as well as bowling, skating and playing pool. The home is walking distance to baseball, soccer fields and sliding hills. In house activities include board games, arts and crafts, and baking. The home is also within walking distance of a small mall and local library. The home is located near bus stops for ease of transportation. The area is academically well serviced with ongoing communication and support between the schools and home.

Well structured, reality based home which promotes growth by encouraging good communication, problem solving, and life skills. There is a strong emphasis on building good relationships and respect towards each other. Personal accountability, consistency and goal setting are stressed for those lacking self- direction.

Type of Home: Therapeutic foster home with capacity for 4 children ages 6 to 13 years of age. This home provides a family setting, in a rural area, on several acres of land. Long term children seeking a family based model are preferred.

The home is currenlty adding a two bedroom addition to accomodate the foster parents, their two sons and four foster children. The home is rural, on several acres of land and utilizes local services: community centre, public school and church.

Debbie and Joe have two years of experience as a foster couple, and along with their twin sons, enjoy the opportunities of fostering. They have completed CAS foster parenting training, as well as Summit foster parenting training and have recently been trained and certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. Debbie is a stay at home mom, while Joe is self-employed in the forest/ lumber industry.

One Residential Youth Worker provides relief and support to the House Parents as
needed. The RYW is also trained and certified in TCI.

Younger children who require long term placement, who present with behavioral, social and emotional needs.

The home is located approx. 40 km. north of SSM and enjoys the services of the local public school, community centre, church and local park.

A family-based setting, teaching healthy parent-child relationships, while building trust, communication skills, social skills, while encouraging children to be children. The home has weekly family meetings, and therapeutic group programming on various topics, as set out by the Plan of Cares and the child's goals.

1140 GOULAIS HOME PROFILE

Location: 1140 Goulais Avenue, sault Ste. Marie, ON

Staffing: Foster Parent - Mixed Modality Model home with full time Foster Parent with staffing for support and relief, to provide care for girls between the ages of 10-16.

Type of Home:

Short-term and long-term placement for girls between the ages of 10-16 years of age. The foster parent motivates the girls to learn age appropriate social behaviours, how to spend positive time in the community, and learning how to occupy their time through positive interests and opportunities. This parent model home proves to be effective with teens who require social skills training, independent living training, developing their self-esteem and learning how to engage both with peers and in the community. All teens will have the opportunity to participate in the Independent Living Assessment Program acquired from the Daniel Memorial Institute. The results of this assessment are used to set up specific skills and individualized coaching opportunities for each youth.

Physical Description:

This is a 2000+ sq. foot house with 2 sheds, and a large driveway in a country setting with several acres of land. The home has 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, a large staff office, a large living room, a dining room, a separate kitchen and eating area, a basement level laundry room, and a basement rec. room. The home is close to Korah High School and two elementary schools, McMeeken arena, and a short drive to Hiawatha Beach and Park, the Group Health Centre, Cambrian Shopping Centre, and the YMCA. The home is also located next door to our Summit Classroom/ Training Centre.

Staff Curriculum Vitae:

The foster parent, Bettina, has worked for Summit as an RYW prior to working as a foster parent. She earned a Social Service Worker Diploma from St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario and is currently working on a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. Part of Bettina’s training included the Daniel Memorial Institute Foster Parent Training System. Along with the support staff, the foster parent attends monthly team meetings, delivers weekly therapeutic group programming and attends TCI training four times a year. All staff is re-certified in TCI yearly. The home’s Supervisor works closely with the foster home and attends all meetings, case conferences and oversees the program to ensure that licensing standards are met.

Child Care Support:

The foster parent is in a full time position with Residential Youth Workers (RYW) available to provide weekly support and relief based on the home’s occupancy rate and the program’s schedule. All RYWs are trained according to SHS hiring practices and training systems, and certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).

Placement Preference:

Teen girls between the ages of 10 -16 years in need of structure, consistency, supervision and in need of skills coaching in the areas of: self-esteem, getting along with peers, academic support, independent living skills and fostering healthy relationships.

Recreation Facilities and Activities:

Household activities include both indoor and outdoor recreation. Activities target both individual and group needs and staff encourages community involvement through local resources such as public swimming, the YMCA, local library, public skating, biking, community events and hiking. The foster parent also encourages and provides opportunities for the development of hobbies such as crafts, art, scrapbooking, journaling and poetry.

General Overview:

Organized and structured home, with daily routines and expectations that are age appropriate for teen girls in need of supervision and skill coaching.

Homes

900 GOULAIS HOME PROFILE

Location: This home is located in the country on the north west edge of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

House parent: Pauline and Bob Orazetti

Type of Home: Therapeutic foster home with capacity for five boys/girls between the ages of 12 and 16 years of age. Long term placements are preferred as to minimize disruptions to the other residents.

Physical Description:

This is a 3000+ sq. foot house with a double garage, and a large driveway in a country setting with several acres of land. The home has 6 bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large living room, a dining room, a separate kitchen and eating area, a laundry room, and a large rec. room with an eating area. The home is close to the McMeeken arena, and a short drive to the Group Health Centre, Cambrian Shopping Centre, and the YMCA.

Couple Curriculum Vitae:

Pauline has been an RYW with Summit Human Services Inc. for the past two years. Bob is an independent contractor. They have three children ranging from 6 to 10 years of age. Their approach to child care is based on caring, sharing and consistency. They keep busy with recreational activities and outdoor living. Their home is well structured with rules and routines based on age appropriate expectations. Pauline, as the primary caregiver, is a strong parent with excellent interpersonal skills, very patient, has a great sense of humour and genuine caring for high needs children. She is also trained and certified in TCI.

Child Care Support:

Two Residential Youth Workers provide relief and support to the Houseparent on a weekly basis. The role of the Residential Youth Worker is to provide the residents and the houseparent with support as needed, and to fill in for the House Parents during their time off. All RYW's are trained and certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).

Placement Preference:

Pre-teens and young teenagers able to form attachments are preferred for this home. The home accepts difficult to serve, socially, behavioural, and emotionally challenged children who can function within a community based environment. We are not able to provide care for Young Offenders serving custody or detention orders. We are also unable to provide care for known sexual offenders, fire setters, or extremely violent children, however each case will be assessed individually.

Recreation Facilities and Activities:

Household activities include arts and crafts, swimming, sliding, and skating. The home participates in many community activities, visits the library regularly and enjoys the programs at the YMCA, the shopping at Cambrian Mall, the activities at SSM Museum, the short drive to the bowling alley, the Roberta Bondar Pavillon and the McMeeken arena. The home is also a short drive from Hiawatha Park, and local beaches.

General Overview:

Well organized and structured, this reality based nurturing home promotes growth by encouraging relationship building, age appropriate social skills, academic development and healthier lifestyle choices. Together with the Residential Youth Workers, the Houseparent provides a structured and consistent behaviour management program within a home setting.

Homes

PIM STREET HOME PROFILE

Location: 274 Pim Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Staffing:

Therapeutic Foster Home – Mixed Modality Model, with support and relief Youth Workers working as a team along with Ken Hartmann, who is the Foster Parent and Jennifer Houston who is Ken’s long-term partner.

Type of Home:

This foster home is opened for short-term and long-term placements for males between 10-16 years of age, who have been identified as having developmental delays and/or cognitive impairments. The foster parent has years of experience working with emotionally and developmentally delayed individuals and is motivated to continue working with such youths but is also trained to work with a variety of youths’ needs. Ken will motivate the residents to learn age appropriate social, life and behavioural skills, how to spend positive time in the community, and how to occupy their time through positive interests and opportunities. Ken strives to be effective in preparing teens for healthy living, positive decision making and preparation for adulthood. He will focus on helping youth develop positive self-esteem and learn how to engage with peers and in the community.

Physical Description:

This is a 2600+ sq. foot home located on the hill in the central part of the city. The home has 3 bedrooms for the residents, 2 full bathrooms, a large staff office, a large living room, a dining room and a separate kitchen. There are plans to develop a second floor laundry area. Until this is complete, Foster Parent will complete residents’ laundry. The home does have a full basement which will not be accessible to the residents. The home is close to High Schools and Elementary Schools, John Rhodes Arena, the Group Health Centre, Indian Friendship Centre, Cambrian Mall, Public Library and the YMCA. The city transit and School buses can be accessed from Pim Street and the Pim Street/Great Northern Road area offer a number of recreational and employment opportunities for youth.

Staff Curriculum Vitae:

The foster parent, Ken, has a BA in Psychology. He has taken numerous courses and workshops related to the social service industry and he has fourteen years work experience with Community Living Algoma (CLA). Ken is a certified first aid/ CPR instructor and is certified in TCI. Part of Ken’s training includes completing the Daniel Memorial Institute Foster Parent Training System. Along with the support staff, the foster parent attends monthly team meetings, delivers weekly therapeutic group programming and attends TCI training four times a year with yearly re-certification. The home’s Foster Care Supervisor works closely with the foster home and attends all meetings, case conferences and oversees the program to ensure that licensing standards are met.

Ken’s long-tem life partner Jennifer has a BA in Sociology and has currently applied to the Masters of Social Work program at Grand Valley State University. Jennifer also has work experience with Community Living Algoma (CLA) and past experience working as an Educational Assistant with the Algoma District School Board.

Child Care Support:

The foster parent is in a live-in position with Residential Youth Workers (RYW) available to provide weekly support and relief based on the home’s occupancy rate and the program’s schedule.

Placement Preference:

Ken is receptive to considering all referrals for males within our licensing parameters with a primary focus on appropriately matching the youth in the home. Youth with emotional, cognitive, developmental and behavioural needs and risks are all within the spectrum of Ken’s abilities but he is also prepared to work with youth with attachment issues, high risk teenage behaviours and youth that need assistance in preparing for independence and adulthood.

Recreation Facilities and Activities:

Household activities include both indoor and outdoor recreation. Activities target both individual and group needs and residents are encouraged to be involved in community activities through local resources such as public swimming, the YMCA, local library, public skating, biking, community events and outdoor sports. The foster parent also encourages and provides opportunities for the development of interests and hobbies such as recreational sports, writing and wood working but he also enjoys introducing youth to his interests such as biking, canoeing and playing cards and board games.

General Overview:

Ken provides a comfortable, predictable and safe home environment that is organized and structured, with clear daily routines and expectations. His experiences within the social field have helped him to develop the knowledge required to work with a vast array of youth and promote the development of necessary skills to ensure adult quality of life.

Homes