FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children Prepared by Wes Salsbury Foster Care Replication Committee

Objective The objective of this presentation is to introduce Foster Care Services to Providence Partners who do not currently provide these services in their state or region. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Objective We will give an overview of the sociological need for Foster Care Services as well as the advantages of being a service provider. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Objective Further we will introduce resources available through Providence to help you assess your market area and to develop and implement a Foster Care Program FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Substitute Care Foster care begins with the placement of a child by a state agency into a living environment outside their home. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Substitute Care Alternate living environments can include hospital; residential care (treatment center or group home); or foster care. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Why Foster Care? Children typically find themselves in foster care because their home is considered to be an unsafe environment... FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Why Foster Care? …this is usually due to child endangerment which is generally related to neglect, drug dependency, abuse or other risk of harm factors FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Types of Foster Care There are several types of foster care and the terms may vary from state to state. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Types of Foster Care Each “type” has a different objective as far as what is hoped to be accomplished while the child is in placement. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Types of Foster Care Relative Care When it is appropriate, a state welfare agency might elect to have children live in the home of a qualified extended family member. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Types of Foster Care Traditional Foster Care A foster family that is qualified, licensed, supervised, willing and able to provide a safe nurturing usually temporary, stable home environment for children at risk. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Types of Foster Care Specialized, Therapeutic or Treatment Foster Care Care provided by foster parents who are specially trained to meet the support requirements of special needs children. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Types of Foster Care Professional/Adolescent/ Sexually Problematic Foster Care Care provided by foster parents committed to providing a highly structured, secure home environment, willing and able to meet the added requirements of working with special needs children. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Providence offers a combination of Specialized and Therapeutic Foster Care for special needs children requiring more intensive attention. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Therapeutic Foster Care was developed in the 1970’s to encourage a move away from an institutional solution. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care The idea was to involve professionals as well as the family itself as an integral part of the treatment team. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Specialized Foster Care involves training foster parents in conjunction with providing intensive support from the servicing agency. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Special needs children can be: Medically Complex FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Special needs children can be: Developmentally Delayed FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Special needs children can be: Sexually Problematic FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Special needs children may display emotional or behavioral issues. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care The goal of the Providence Foster Care Program is to teach troubled children how to be successful in a family and/or community setting … FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care …in order to facilitate the child’s return to their own family when appropriate or to a more permanent placement. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care These are typically referred to as permanency goals. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

What are Permanency Goals? Return to Biological Home Child is in foster care while parents work on establishing an environment suitable for the child to safely return home (typically 5-12 months). FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

What are Permanency Goals? Substitute Care Safe, nurturing, environment that meets the individual child’s special needs with guidance toward independence. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

What are Permanency Goals? Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights Same goals as substitute care with the further understanding that the child may not be returning to the custody of their biological parents. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

What are Permanency Goals? Adoption Same goals as substitute care with the further understanding that the child typically aged 14 or younger is available for adoption FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

What are Permanency Goals? Guardianship Same goals as substitute care however the parental rights have not been terminated FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

What are Permanency Goals? Independence Same goals as substitute care with the further goals to prepare a child typically aged 14 or older for independent living upon reaching legal majority. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care There are an array of services that can be provided to accomplish the stated goals. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care In Illinois for example, Providence provides services through Camelot Community Care FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care CASE MANAGEMENT FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care INTENSIVE IN HOME COUNSELING FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care ADOPTION SERVICES FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care CRISIS INTERVENTION FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care REFERRAL TO ANCILARY PROVIDERS FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care In many states Providence provides recruiting and training of foster parents. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care The cornerstone of the Providence Foster Care Program was developed in Illinois by Camelot Care and currently expanded to include professionals in eight states. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care The Camelot program developed a social learning approach to children in care FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care This approach identified developmental milestones, then designed social learning programs that are taught through role play. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Providence Foster Care Once children master the requisite skills, they can re-visit the learned behavior to stop the cycle of negativity and victimization that is adversely affecting their lives. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Why Provide Foster Care Services? Most states and counties are open to outsourcing solutions. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Why Provide Foster Care Services? Specialized Foster Care is More Effective FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Why Provide Foster Care Services? Specialized Foster Care is Less expensive FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

Why Provide Foster Care Services? Specialized Foster Care is Less restrictive FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

How difficult is it to set up? Setting up a program in your state or region depends on your local laws and regulations. Experienced Providence partners are available to help you navigate your local regulatory agencies. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

How difficult is it to set up? Providence’s 30+ years experience in this service area through Camelot gives you immediate credibility and support necessary to be effective. FOSTER CARE SERVICES Replicating Hope for Children

How do we proceed? We suggest you begin by doing an assessment of the need in your market area and an evaluation of the resources necessary to provide the level of service required. Replicating Hope for Children FOSTER CARE SERVICES

Replicating Hope for Children The Foster Care members of the Providence Replication Committee can guide you through the process. Call Wes Salsbury for more information.