"Growing Healthy Futures Since 1909"

Since 2002 The Children's Home has offered Therapeutic and Respite Foster Care, in addition to Traditional Foster Care.

The Children's Home began the Family Foster Care Project in 1994 to extend The Home's mission to children and youth by finding alternative family homes for youth unable to return to their natural homes.

As an officially licensed Foster Care Agency, The Children's Home provides for recruiting, training, and supervision of foster care families and placement of youth in loving homes.

Therapeutic Foster Care

Therapeutic Foster Care at The Children's Home is designed to allow youth with mental health needs the opportunity to grow and change in a family-like home-like environment.  Youth are provided nurturance and acceptance into a family through living in a therapeutic foster setting. 

Therapeutic Foster Parents at The Children's Home must complete approximately 35-40 hours of pre-service training.  In addition, 24 hours of in-service training is required each year.  Therapeutic Foster Parents actively participate in the development and implementation of the service plan of care for the youth placed in their homes.

Parents in the Therapeutic Foster Care program must maintain a license to provide foster care and adhere to the child-care practices and procedures as defined by The Children's Home.

Respite Foster Care

An additional measure of support for Therapeutic Foster Parents is The Home's Respite Foster Care.  Respite Foster Care is designed to provide temporary relief/support for families and long-term caregivers.  Care is provided for a few hours, all day, an evening, weekend or for a special occasion.  Respite Care is limited to 30 days or less.

Respite Foster Care is often a stepping stone for those who feel they may be interested in making the transition from traditional foster care to therapeutic foster care.

Respite Foster Care is a vital part of The Children's Home's continuum of strength-based services for families.

Traditional Foster Care

For youth who have minimal or no mental health needs, Traditional Foster Care is available.  Placement in Traditional Foster Care ranges from a few months to a couple of years.  In Traditional Foster Care, children and youth are given the opportunity to experience a sense of family and belonging they may never have known.  Traditional Foster Care provides a safe and caring home for those in placement.

Bi-monthly visits with a foster care supervisor are required as part of the support for these special foster families.

Who can be a Foster Parent?

The following are criteria which apply to potential foster parents for any of The Children's Home Foster Care Services:

• May be single or married

• Must be at least 21 years or older

• Must live within 50 miles of The Children's Home

• Must have a current income sufficient to meet the needs of immediate family

• Must have a working telephone in the home and access to reliable transportation

• A medical examination is required

• Must have good personal references
   

To learn more about placing a child in Foster Care

To learn more about becoming a Foster Care Parent