Wood Co Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board

GIVING TROUBLED FAMILIES A SECOND CHANCE

Mar 27, 2002

They?’re looking for a few good parents. Since 1989, the Children?’s Resource Center has been placing troubled Wood County children five to eighteen years old with qualified parents in treatment foster care. The program allows children with problems, or who come from troubled families, to receive loving care until they can return to their families of origin. Karen Wortman, Treatment Foster Care Coordinator, estimates that an average of six to eight Wood County children are in CRC?’s program at any given time. (Other county agencies also offer foster care services.) Though the program can boast two foster families who have served with it for over ten years, CRC is always looking for committed parents to take on this tough yet rewarding job.

In the past, some children with particularly difficult problems, or a history of delinquency, had to be removed to special facilities farther from home to get adequate treatment. Institutionalizing a child, however briefly, made the transition back to his original family more difficult. CRC developed its Treatment Foster Care plan in order to prevent such institutionalization, Karen says. ?“We provide foster parents with significant training and support so kids can stay in a treatment foster home closer to their own families, and make successful transitions back to their own homes.?” Problems that bring children to the program include abuse and neglect, or children?’s emotional and behavioral difficulties. Length of stay in a foster home may be from six months to
several years. A typical period is one to two years.

Becoming a treatment foster care parent involves a sizable investment of time and energy, not least because of the training involved. Parents must meet state licensing requirements. These include thirty-six hours of pre-service training, provided at CRC, in behavior management, advanced behavioral intervention, the impact of abuse and neglect, and family dynamics. First aid and CPR training are also required. Candidates must complete a criminal background check as well as safety and fire inspections of their homes. In addition, they observe children in CRC?’s residential unit to see behavior management techniques in action. Monthly training and support meetings for treatment foster care parents (weekly for parents new to the program) give them ongoing skills training and support. Karen points out that CRC makes every effort to find a good child-parent match. Foster children typically also receive counseling at CRC.

It?’s a major commitment. What makes someone ready to take on the job? ?“Many foster parents have a sense of mission, a need to make a difference,?” notes Karen. CRC?’s treatment foster care parents are reimbursed for their efforts, and this sometimes enables one parent to stay at home with children, though the program does not require this. Though treatment foster care parents can be single or married, childless or not, they have certain characteristics in common. All thrive on parenting, are open to learning and being part of a treatment team, and have stable family lives. Flexibility and tolerance are also crucial.

Most importantly, foster parents must be willing to let go when the child is ready to return to her original family. (Program parents may be considered for adoption if reunification is not possible, but this is not typical, Karen notes.) ?“People tend to come into the program rather na?¯ve,?” says Karen, herself a former foster care parent. ?“You tend to think if you can love this child enough you?’ll heal him, but it?’s not that simple. You get your heart broken, but you need to get beyond it.?”

Around the United States, over one-half million children are in foster care. This statistic represents a 90% increase since 1987. Yet the number of foster care homes has dropped in the last fifteen years. Clearly, the need for foster parents is greater than ever. CRC?’s treatment foster care program equips willing parents with the skills to meet this need. ?“For people who feel their niche is connecting with kids, this is an excellent way to make a difference,?” Karen says. ?“Some of our kids have been through terrible experiences, but a caring adult can make a huge difference in a child?’s life.?” To borrow a familiar slogan, for the right person, treatment foster care is the toughest job you?’ll ever love.

Interested persons may call Karen Wortman at CRC, 419-352-7588.