New Update On The Houseparent Positions - Mooseheart Child City and School

Eric and I have been praying for a while now that God directs our paths clearly. We believe God is leading us to fill houseparent positions. We have now applied to quite a few houseparent positions and have had two interviews. These two houseparent positions have been a clear "no" from God.

However, we have just received word that we now have a third interview for a houseparent position at Mooseheart Child City and School. The interview is set up for October 20th. Their houseparent positions are called family teachers. They are located 40 miles west of Chicago, IL. They use a motivational system that is positive, negative, and flexible. This motivational system encourages one to work toward a goal, teach the cause and effect relationship, and arranges awards and consequences that will be effective enough to teach and train appropriate behavior.

When a child makes a bad choice to use bad behavior, Mooseheart's motivational system teaches that child to stop and think about their choice with a bad consequence. Then gives them an opportunity to make a better choice with a roleplay scenario.

For instance, when a child can't accept "no" from a family teacher, the family teacher may say,

"Owen, thanks for looking at me when I started talking to you. I know how important is was for you to spend time with Jimmy. However, the mumbling under your breath and looking away when I said "no" is not an acceptable behavior. Because of this behavior you've earned a negative 3,000 points. In just a few minutes you have an opportunity to earn some of those points back by practicing how to accept "no". Whenever your teacher or your parent or me has to tell you "no" you should look in their eyes and say, "Ok"without mumbling under your breath about anything.

If you can accept "no" appropriately you will probably be able to more the activities you want because others will see that you are responsible and mature to make good decisions. Does that make sense to you?

Ok, Owen we're going to practice how to accept "no". I'll walk into the room again and you will ask me if you can go to the gym. I will say "no" and then you will look at me and say "ok".

If the child roleplays the right decision he will gain some points back that was taken away. The child will then be praised for making the better decision. Each family teacher is consistent to implment this motivational system in each of their homes.