Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Foster-Centric Medical Clinic changes or communications?

    Posted 08-11-2021 09:09 AM
    Hello!

    I am interested if anybody has implemented anything new in the medical clinic (department) to help foster caregivers better and/or improve communication. 

    Please share your successes!
    #FosterPrograms

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    Jordana Moerbe
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    #communication
    #animalcare
    #Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
    #OrganizationalManagement
    #medicalfoster
    #Clinic
    #medical​​​​​​​


  • 2.  RE: Foster-Centric Medical Clinic changes or communications?

    Posted 10-04-2021 08:57 AM
    Jordana,

     That is a wonderful question. One of the things that has helped us is having two foster coordinators who's shifts overlap so that there is always coverage. We also provide all fosters/adopters with a " who to contact" sheet with the appropriate phone numbers and email addresses when they need immediate assistance. Our fostercoordinators also ghave direct  lines ( cell phones) so that they can talk, email or text back and forth and that has helped tremendously as some of our fosters work full time jobs so texting is always easier for a lot people.  I have also been contemplating having a google doc that fsters can fill out and they can give an in depth description of whatever concern or issue they might have and it would give them an option to choose 2 dates and times they are available to receive a call. This would leave the ball in their court so they can make themselves avaible at a time that is feasible for them ( however this is not in the works it is just my brain coming up with ideas). I hope this helps a bit.

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    Marissa Reid
    LifeLine Animal Project
    678.239.1901
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  • 3.  RE: Foster-Centric Medical Clinic changes or communications?

    Posted 10-05-2021 10:16 AM
    Hi Jordana!

    Like Marissa, we have a list of emails and phone numbers in our foster manual, including who to contact in case of emergency (and examples of what constitutes an emergency).  In addition, we have recently been looking into having a "hotline" number that fosters can call that is checked 24/7.  Since we don't provide staff with work cell phones, this would allow staff to pick up messages from a central location (and it's only one phone number for fosters to remember).  We've looked into Google Phone and DialPad.  We're also considering the idea of having "foster mentors", more experienced foster caregivers that can guide a new foster along in the process.

    Cheers,
    Carrie

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    Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
    Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
    PAWS NY

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    Case Management &
    Community Partnerships Specialist
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  • 4.  RE: Foster-Centric Medical Clinic changes or communications?

    Posted 10-05-2021 01:01 PM
    Yes! Using this opportunity to elevate the idea of foster mentors (e.g., volunteer leads or foster case managers) and foster teams!



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    Thank you all for all you do!

    Amber Freiwald
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 5.  RE: Foster-Centric Medical Clinic changes or communications?

    Posted 10-06-2021 09:46 AM
    Thanks Amber, those resources are great!

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    Carrie Nydick Finch, MS, LCSW
    Deputy Director of Programs and Strategy
    PAWS NY

    ----
    Case Management &
    Community Partnerships Specialist
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