Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Foster Manuels

    Posted 10-31-2024 10:25 AM

    Hello!

    I am coming into a shelter and completely revamping our foster program. It's in desperate need! Can anyone share their foster manuals for adult dogs and cats so I can get ideas? Thank you so much! 


    #FosterPrograms

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    Olivia Clark
    Alternative Placement Manager
    The Humane Society of Harford County
    MD
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  • 2.  RE: Foster Manuels

    Posted 10-31-2024 10:33 AM

    Hi Olivia, 

    We have a few folders in our resource library here on the Forum that includes a variety of foster manuals shared by community members that you can explore! Here are links to each of the folders:


    On Maddie's University, we also have an entire collection of courses and resources that cover the fundamentals of running a successful foster program, including data collection and how to run many different types of foster programs: https://maddies.fund/foundationsoffosterprogrammingcollection

    I hope these will help give you a place to start with revamping your foster program! 



    ------------------------------
    Charlotte Otero
    Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
    she/her
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Foster Manuels

    Posted 11-01-2024 06:47 AM

    Hi Olivia, 

    Check out this HASS Toolkit! It's a comprehensive guide on Foster Programming and includes job descriptions, document templates, data collection considerations, technology options, and more. 

    Best of luck in this endeavor! 



    ------------------------------
    Jenifer Reed
    Maddie's® Human Animal Support Services Program Implementation Trainer
    AmPA!/HASS
    TN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Foster Manuels

    Posted 11-01-2024 08:52 AM

    Thank you, Charlotte and Jenifer, for sharing those links! I'm not sure if our foster volunteers are given a training guide when they start, but I think one would go a long way toward foster volunteers-especially new ones-feeling supported and secure that there's a resource that can give them the answers they need when they need them instead of waiting on someone else for a reply. Any tips on what info is crucial to include in a foster manual?



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    Stef Mates
    Seminole County TNVR
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Foster Manuels

    Posted 11-04-2024 06:53 AM

    Great question! 

    Here are some ideas of the types of content you may include: 

    • Introduction to foster staff (or whichever team members they'll be interacting with) & contact information
    • Do's & Don'ts (i.e. what to do in an emergency, how to handle adoption inquiries, dog park policy, what to do if you need behavior advice, etc.)
    • Tip sheets (housebreaking/litterbox training, basic training, etc.)

    Here are a couple of great examples of online foster manuals/info sharing:



    ------------------------------
    Jenifer Reed
    Maddie's® Human Animal Support Services Program Implementation Trainer
    AmPA!/HASS
    TN
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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