Resource Family Specialists (RFS) Program

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Resource Family Specialist program was established by San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) in 2016 to provide various levels of support to Resource Families. A Resource Family is an individual or family that is approved by the County to provide foster care, adopt or become legal guardians to related and unrelated children that are in the care of a county child welfare agency or probation department. Resource Family Specialists serve as advocates for caregivers by providing guidance and support throughout the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process and assist social workers by ensuring awareness of program activities. Resource Family Specialists are former or current foster or adoptive parents hired to offer their support, intimate knowledge and unique perspectives of CFS processes to Resource Families. The Resource Family Specialist assists CFS with recruitment, retention and support of Resource Families by: • Mentoring families throughout the RFA process, • Referring and linking families to community resources, • Being an advocate, • Leading support groups, and • Assisting CFS in the development, implementation and coordination of CFS projects and events.