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The Institute of Professional Practice, Inc. has a specialized foster care project called the Professional Parenting Program. We believe every child deserves to grow up in a loving and supportive environment. They need caring individuals able and willing to open their homes and their hearts. Is this you? |
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The Professional Parenting Program
Receives the HRC seal of accrediation
The Professional Parenting Program was created in 1988 and has grown into a program that currently serves over 100 children. We are statewide and we accept referrals from every DCF region. Our main office is located in Meriden and we have a satellite office in Bloomfield.
Mission Statement - The Professional Parenting Program believes that every child, regardless of disability, age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, has the right to grow up in a family that respects and supports them. We commit to organizing our service and supports to enact this value. We welcome as prospective parents: single persons, heterosexual couples (married and unmarried); gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals or couples; and multiracial couples. The Professional Parenting Program supports all families with equal dignity and respect. In partnership with our diverse group of families, The Professional Parenting Program strives to provide each child the opportunity to reach his or her potential as an individual. It is our intention that IPPI's Professional Parenting Community, both staff and parents will truly embrace a spirit of acceptance for all and in so doing foster a belief that acknowledges each child as a unique and dynamic individual that holds gifts and talents which are to be cultivated by those who love and care for them.
Non-Discrimination Statement - The Professional Parenting Program believes that diversity enriches our lives. We will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and embrace people from all backgrounds as part of our organizational community.
The Professional Parenting Program is committed to the principle of "normalization". Where the children we serve have many special needs, their similarities to typical children far surpass their differences. Therefore, our program works to include these children to the maximum extent possible in all community, educational and recreational settings. By utilizing a behavioral approach to treatment, children are able to develop the necessary skills to participate in most community activities. We recognize however, that the unique needs of our children require that the parental figures be professionally trained and supervised to meet the challenge. Thus, the notion of professionals parenting children with special needs was conceived.
Our Kids
The majority of the children in our program have complex needs resulting from multiple failed placements, histories including abuse and neglect, and physical and/or developmental disabilities. They come to us with a multitude of diagnoses which include; autism, ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Depression to name a few.
On average, our program supports the placement of over 100 children. We serve many very young children including infants and toddlers, though almost 75% of the children served by our program are between the ages of 11-21years. These children are looking for professional foster parents willing to work with pre-teens and adolescents in order to help them prepare for a successful transition into adulthood. Because our program receives referrals on a daily basis, at any given time there are dozens of children awaiting placement.
Many of our children are in long term foster placements where there will move onto independent living programs and/or pursue a college education, while others become available for adoption. Over the years the Professional Parenting Program has celebrated many successful adoptions of children by their Professional Parents.
Other placements may be shorter term while efforts are made to reunify the child with their biological family. In such cases, our Professional Parents and staff work collaboratively with the biological family to reach this goal. When children rejoin their families from whom they've been separated, IPPI also provides post-reunification services to ease everyone's transition back to family life.
Our Staff
Please click on the link below to view Staff Biographies
Services
We approach each child as an individual and focus planning and support services around his or her unique needs. All the children have an individualized plan of service that is developed by an interdisciplinary team made up of people who are involved with the child. By individually tailoring the level of care and services required for each child, we have found it is possible to build a successful program for almost any youth.
Of all the approaches to the treatment of children who have behavioral or learning problems, none have been as well researched or documented as the skill-building approach encompassed by Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Given the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of its use, The Institute of Professional Practice, Inc. maintains a behavioral orientation to treatment.
When our behavioral approach is coupled with a warm, loving and stable family environment, the results are overwhelmingly positive. Children who have a team of caring people working together to support them at home, in school and in the community can make tremendous progress in their daily lives. They also become better prepared to enter adulthood with skills and a solid support system.
The Professional Parenting Program strives to provide each child with placement stability and ample opportunities for growth. Children who have a team of caring people working together to support them at home, in school and in the community can make significant social and emotional gains.
The following services are available through our program:
- Behavioral services: Board certified behavior analysts provide a full spectrum of behavioral services designed to enhance opportunities for positive behavioral growth and skill acquisition.
- Weekly home visits: Masters level clinicians provide in home support to the foster parents and children at a frequency of at least once a week. These clinicians also provide an array of case management services.
- Psychiatric consultation: Board certified child psychiatrist provides psychiatric consultation and medical treatment as needed to the children in our program.
- 24/7 on-call beeper: A clinician is available to provide support and consultation during evening and weekend hours.
- Individualized treatment plans: An overall plan of service (OPS) is developed for each child within one month of placement and reviewed every six months thereafter. The OPS is tailored to meet the child's individual needs and outlines services.
- Respite and recreational reimbursement: Funding is available to Professional Parents to defray the costs of respite expenses, along with recreational activities.
- A competitive stipend: Professional parents are compensated with a generous, tax free stipend.
- Comprehensive parent training: A variety of classes are offered to help prepare foster parents during the pre-placement phase of approval. Ongoing classes are also provided after approval, which include a 21-hour course called Parenting Tools for Positive Behavior Change.
"Professional Parent" is the term The Institute of Professional Practice uses to describe our highly trained foster parents, who we view as the backbone of our program. The training requirements include participation in a pre-service series, child specific training and general course requirements each year. Professional Parents work closely with the case coordinators, who provide support and oversight to the home. Professional Parents are asked to perform a wide variety of responsibilities for very challenging children. As such, IPPI provides compensation at a rate that is commensurate with the demands that are placed on them. We have over 90 licensed homes throughout the state. The majority of homes are in the Greater Hartford area, with a smaller percentage in the Greater Waterbury and Greater New Haven areas.
Interested in becoming a Professional Parent?
As you are aware, there continues to be a need for quality foster homes. Your inquiry may make it possible for a foster child to live in a loving, secure and
stable home. Thank you for your interest in the Professional Parenting Program.
In addition to the other requirements, applicants must be able to respond "YES" to the following questions/statements.
- Are you at least 21 yrs. old with a valid CT driver's license?
- Do you have a HS diploma or G.E.D?
- If you work, is your current schedule first shift?
- Do you have an extra room for a foster child?
- You have never been substantiated for abuse or neglect of a child?
- Do you have a car available to you at all times that is insured?
- Do you have sufficient income to meet the needs of your family?
- If you rent, do you have a landlord's permission to have a foster child placed in your home?
Click on the links below to view the required forms
Professional Parent Agreement Professional Parenting Program Agreement
The Institute of Professional Practice, Inc. - Professional Parenting Program - 568 Preston Avenue - Meriden, CT 06450
Phone 203.317.2700 Martha Wick-Glaser Ext.134 Christy George-Tottenham Ext.148
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