FAQ's for prospective Florida Mentors
What is Florida Mentor?
We are a national corporation providing innovative and cost effective home and community based services. We work predominantly with in the fields of behavioral health, rehabilitation and developmental disabilities.
Our programs are designed to be an alternative to hospital or institutional care by providing services in a community based setting. The most important aspect of Florida Mentor's host home program is the matching and placing of an individual in the home of a trained Mentor. The individual will receive active support services to live a full and healthy life.
Mentors are the heart of the individual's team, providing daily personal contact and ensuring that the individual's plan is followed. Mentors do not conform to any standard profile, representing a wide variety of ethnic/cultural groups, skills, educational backgrounds, family constellations and neighborhood settings.
Florida Mentor's staff actively support our Mentors.
Who are Mentors?
Mentors are men and women, 21 years of age or older, who provide individualized supports and services in their own home and community. mentors become trusted guides, tutors and advocates for the individuals who live with them. mentors are offered opportunities for skill development specific to the needs of the individuals with whom they will be working.
Who is the Therapist?
A therapist is a professional such as a licensed social worker who, in combination with a Mentor forms the core of Florida Mentor. The therapist provides therapy for the individual, oversight and guidance to the team, and works with the other key people involved with the individuals program.
Who is part of the Individual Planning Team ?
The multi-disciplinary team supporting the child or adult includes the Mentor, the therapist, the coordinator, referring agency case managers and other community based professionals as well as the biological families as appropriate. All services to be provided by the Mentor are clearly specified in the individual plan developed by this team. The mentor is an active member of the team and is a primary service provider working with the support of the professional staff.
Who are the individuals to whom Florida Mentor provides services?
Florida Mentor serves a wide range of adults and children in need of residential services. Currently Florida Mentor serves children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges, children and adolescents with complex medical needs, individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities, individuals who have sustained brain injuries and frail elders.
Not all programs serve all populations however. In order to check what services a particular program offers please click on the 'locations' tab above and select the office you need to research. Click on the blue link to the right of the address to see the services they provide. If you have further questions please call the office and ask. They will be happy to help.
Where do the people Florida Mentor serves come from?
Individuals are referred to Florida Mentor from state and county agencies. Individuals may have previously lived in state institutions, group homes, their own homes, long term care facilities and from facilities run by other agencies
What are the standards on which I am judged to be qualified?
Persons interested in becoming a Mentor are required to meet Florida Mentor prerequisites for service as well as any licensing and certification requirements of the state, county or funding source. The recruiter conducts an extensive home study with fire safety and health inspections to ensure that the home meets all of Florida Mentor's standards and all state and local licensing requirements.
Additionally Florida Mentor conducts an office for Inspector General exclusion check and a criminal background check for every adult member (18 years or older) in the candidate's household. Employment references as well as personal references are also reviewed. All household members must submit a current medical report.
What type of emergency procedures or backup do I have in case of a crisis?
Every program in Florida Mentor has specified procedures regarding emergency situations. A 24 hour on-call system is operational in all programs. Florida Mentor will provide guidance on the use of these procedures.
What is my liability in caring for an individual?
Florida Mentor carried professional liability insurance to cover itself against claims arising from incidents that occur while an individual is receiveing our services. Subject to the exclusions and and qualifications set forth in this policy, this coverage can be extended to staff, agents and contractors, (a Mentor is an independent contractor to the company) at the company's sole discretion. It is required that Mentors carry their own property insurance with appropriate levels of coverage.
How am I paid and what is my tax liability?
Mentors are independent contractors who are not employees of Florida Mentor Mentors are self employed individuals who contract with Florida Mentor. Mentor's are paid on a per-deim basis and have no payroll taxes deducted from their checks. Rates of reimbursement are established prior to each placement and are specified in the placement agreement. mentors are paid twice a month. As self-employed individuals, Mentors may be liable for their own federal and state income taxes. We recommend that Mentors consult with an accountant or attorney concerning any questions they may have regarding tax laws or their tax obligations.
Do I have any say in which individual will be living in my home?
The Matching of an individual with a Mentor is an important process that involves the program manager, coordinator, recruiter and other program staff. The particular preferences and abilities of the Mentor are considered when making the match. Once a potential match is identified the coordinator or recruiter presents the facts of the case as they are currently known to the Mentor. The Mentor has the right at this point to decline to work with a particular individual and ask to be considered for another match.
What information is provided to me about the individual with whom I will be working?
Prior to placement the coordinator reviews the case record and any pertinent information with the Mentor. As a part of the individual planning team the Mentor is probided with all information neccessary to formulate and implement an effective individual plan.
What are my daily responsibilities to the individual in my care?
The primary responsibility of the Mentor is to implement the individual plan for the person in his or her care. Since the individual is living in the Mentor's home the Mentor is responsible to provide basic home care and related responsibilities. Such responsibilties include providing nutritional meals, planning appointments and providing transportation to appointments such as doctors, dentists, recreational activities and religious services as neccessary.
Handy Links for Mentors
Florida Foster Parents Association:
http://www.charityadvantage.com/fsfapa/Home.asp
Interesting article on foster parent recruitment and retention:
http://www.teamfla.org/downloads/FCAPRptFINAL7-31-00.pdf
Find out what medications are doing and what they are actually for:
