Youth Health Associates expects proctor parents to do the day-to-day parenting for these children until they can either return safely to their own homes or until an alternate plan is found such as living with other family, or living on their own. Proctor parents arrange for medical and dental care, education and encourage positive relationships. While living in proctor care, youth are given many challenges and opportunities to grow and learn from their mistakes. Proctor parents provide structure and support for the youth in their home, which allow them to live within appropriate boundaries and achieve their goals.
Youth in proctor care attend school, exercise, and participate in activities that challenge them and provide an outlet for built up stress and energy. Each youth have a tracker to spend time with them each week. The tracker’s responsibility is to be a positive role model for the youth and teach them important life skills so they can be re-integrated into the community. A major focus is on teaching basic life skills such as social skills, self care, career planning, housing and money management, and seeking employment and continuing education.
Most of all, proctor care offers a second chance for youth to overcome their personal weaknesses and use the skills they learn to achieve excellence; It is about changing lives, one youth at a time.
Become a Proctor Parent
As proctor parents for 11 years, we have found that we have gained more from the youth than they have gained from me. We provide the love and support needed to make effective changes in their lives. In return the youth are encouraged to make positive choices and decision in their lives. As Proctor parents, we provide a safe environment for the youth to come home to while building relationships and teaching them skills to help them be successful in society. As a Proctor parent I provide day to day care for the youth in my home. The opportunities to teach and learn are endless while building rewarding relationships. Being a Proctor parent allows me to help society by teaching our youth. Our youth are the future of our society. We have enjoyed the opportunities that we have had to build these relationships. We especially enjoy continuing the relationships once the youth leave our home.
Qualifications of being a Proctor Parent
Everyone in the home eighteen years of age or older must be able to pass a BCI and provide social security cards, and a current Utah drivers license.
The home must have no more then 6 children under the age of 18 including foster children.
The home must have a separate room for the foster child/children that is at least 80 square feet for one child and 120 square feet for two youth.
Couples must be legally married and provide copy of marriage license.
Parents must not dependent on the foster or proctor care payment for their expenses beyond those associated with foster or proctor care.
Verification of income must be submitted annually.
Parents must be able to provide 24 hour supervision for foster/proctor child.
Parents must be willing and able to attend monthly training.
Parents must be willing and able to attend and complete 32 hours of pre-service.
Parents must be willing and able to attend and complete CPR and First Aid Training.
Parents must be in good health and are able to provide physical and emotional care to the child.
Parents must be emotionally stable and responsible persons over 21 years of age.
Parents must be an individual or a legally married couple.
The home must have no more than two children under 2 that reside in the foster home, including the provider's natural children.
The foster or proctor home is located where school, church, recreation, and other community facilities are available.
Home must be clean, in good repair, and provides for normal comforts in accordance with community standards.
Home Check list Physical Aspects of Home
1. The foster or proctor home is located where school, church, recreation, and other community facilities are available. 2. The foster or proctor home is clean, in good repair, and provides for normal comforts in accordance with community standards. 3. The foster or proctor home is free from health hazards, fire hazards and has working smoke detectors and an approved fire extinguisher. 4. There is sufficient bedroom space for the following: a. bedrooms are not shared by children of the opposite sex. b. children do not sleep in the parents' room. c. each child has their own solidly constructed bed adequate to the child's size, d. A minimum of 80 square feet per child is provided in a single occupant bedroom and a minimum of 60 square feet per child is provided in a multiple occupant bedroom excluding storage space, and no more than four children are housed in a bedroom. 5. Sleeping areas have a source of natural light and are ventilated by mechanical means or equipped with a screened window that opens. 6. Closet and dresser space is provided within the bedroom for the children's personal possessions and for a reasonable degree of privacy. 7. There is adequate indoor and outdoor space for recreational activities. 8. Home has sufficiently balanced meals to meet the children's needs. 9. Indoor and outdoor areas are maintained to ensure a safe physical environment. 10. Areas unsafe are fenced off or have natural barriers. 11. All furniture and equipment is maintained in a clean and safe condition. Furniture and equipment is of sufficient quantity, variety, and quality to meet individual needs. 12 There are at least two means of exit on each level of the home.
Safety
1. Foster and proctor families conduct and document fire drills at least quarterly, and provide documentation to YHA. 2. Foster and proctor parents provide training to children regarding response to fire warnings and other instructions for life safety. 3. Foster or proctor home has a telephone. Emergency telephone numbers are posted next to the telephone. 4. Foster or proctor home has an adequately supplied first aid kit. 5. Foster and proctor parents who have firearms or ammunition shall assure that they are inaccessible to children at all times. Firearms and ammunition that are stored together shall be kept securely locked in security vaults or locked cases, not in glass fronted display cases. Firearms that are stored in display cases shall be rendered inoperable with trigger locks, bolts removed or other disabling methods. Ammunition for those firearms shall be kept securely locked in a separate location. 6. Foster and Proctor home providers shall not provide a weapon to minors a. If a foster or proctor parent possesses or uses a firearm, notification has been made to YHA, DJJS and DCFS. 7. Foster and proctor parents who have alcoholic beverages in the home shall assure that they are kept inaccessible to children at all times. 8. There is locked storage for hazardous chemicals and materials.
Emergency Plans
1. Foster and proctor parents have a written plan of action for emergencies and disaster to include the following: a. evacuation with a pre-arranged site for relocation, b. transportation and relocation of children when necessary, c. supervision of children after evacuation or relocation, and d. notification of appropriate authorities. 2. Foster and proctor parents have a written plan for medical emergencies, including arrangements for medical transportation, treatment and care. 3. Foster or proctor parents immediately report any serious illness, injury or death of a foster child to the appropriate Division or Agency and the Office.
Medication
1. Prescribed medication must be locked behind two locked doors.
Transportation
1. An emergency telephone number is in the vehicle used to transport children. 2. Each vehicle has an adequately supplied first aid kit.
Steps to becoming a licensed home
Contact our office for an interview-
Program Directors:
Jon Blackham 801-226-7696 (O) 801-310-9690 (C) jblackham@yhautah.com
The interview will consist of an overview of our program and to answer any questions you may have. Complete application and BCI forms
At the end of the interview, you will be given an application and the BCI forms (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) to fill out. Return the completed forms to our office. All adults in your home 18 years of age or older must be fingerprinted and obtain a background check cleared through the Office of Licensing. This process can take up to several months.
Once the program director has reviewed your application and has determined that you meet the requirements, they will contact you to begin a home study.
Complete home study
The home study provides YHA with the comprehensive information needed to place children in your home. You will need to submit various documentation such as a marriage license (if applicable), last year’s income tax return, and medical reports completed by your physician.
Complete 32 hours of pre-service training
Once the BCI has been submitted for clearance you will begin the pre-service proctor parenting training. This training will improve your parenting skills and evaluate your own strengths as a proctor parent. You will gain knowledge and the necessary skills to work with at-risk youth, become certified in CPR and First Aid, and understand your rights and responsibilities as a proctor parent.
Certification of home
Upon the successful completion of your pre-service training, home study and cleared BCI, you can become a licensed proctor parent. This means that you can now care for proctor children in your home. Home available for placement of first youth You will then be contacted by our YHA proctor team if a possible placement is available, and we will discuss whether the youth is a good fit for your home.
John Blackham
Jon Blackham
Director of Proctor and Foster Care
Jon has a B.S. in Business Management from Utah Valley State College (1998) and an MBA from the University of Phoenix (2005). Jon has worked with youth for many years. He has been a tracker, and case manager before coming to YHA in 2005. Jon provides training that promotes structure, stability, and security to both families and youth. He goes above and beyond the average employee to support each family, tracker and youth in his care. Jon is able to use his energy and love of outdoors to successfully connect with our youth and their families on their level. Jon has a grounded perspective that offers everyone he coaches both on and off the court an advantage to everyday life.
Ruth V. Cobb
Ruth V. Cobb
Director of Proctor and Foster Care
Ruth comes to YHA (2009) with not only her family experience, but many years of service as direct care staff, tracker, assistant to and Director of Foster care. Ruth was the youngest of ten and has six boys of her own. She and her family have had twelve youth in their home over the years and loved every minute of it. It is obvious that working with youth is her life calling and she believes she could not imagine doing anything else. Ruth has an attitude that is contagious and everyone who comes in contact with her is elevated to a whole new level. “Being Happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you have decided to look beyond the imperfections”. (unknown author)
