What is the Intensive Family Preservation Program?
The Village Intensive Family Preservation
program is an intensive, time-limited, home-based program that
provides support and therapeutic services to families with children
at imminent risk of placement outside of the home. The primary
goals of the program are to avert the threatened placement by
reducing the risk of further harm to children and improving family
functioning.
• Therapist availability to make initial
visit within 24 - 48 hours of referral.
• Therapists offer 6 - 12 hours per week of home-based
services.
• Therapists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Therapists intervene to help supply tangible items such
as food, clothing, furniture, etc.
• Caseloads are 5 families per therapist.
• Services provided for up to 12 weeks for Family Preservation.
• Services provided for up to 14 weeks for Family Reunification.
• Coordination of other services via referral, as needed.
Why the Intensive Family Preservation Program?
The guiding philosophy of our program is based
on several assumptions. First, it is in the best interest of
children to grow up with their natural families. Underlying
this assumption is the belief that parent-child bonds are natural
and through counseling and development of parenting and advocacy
skills, can be rebuilt.
Additionally, families have the capacity
for adequate, non-abusive parenting and, if given the opportunity
by skilled professionals, can learn the skills necessary to
remain together.
Based on these beliefs, we feel it is our responsibility
to empower and instill hope to families who lack both the financial
resources and knowledge of how to work with available community
resources. Guidance often empowers people to take a more active
role in developing skills to increase individual and family
functioning within the context of their culture and community.
How Are Referrals Made?
All referrals to the Village's Intensive Family
Preservation Program (IFP) are made by the
Department of Children and Families (DCF). The referral process
includes:
• DCF field worker identifies family who
would be appropriate for preservation services.
• DCF field worker completes IFP form and submits it
to program supervisor for approval
• DCF program supervisor refers appropriate cases to Village
IFP project manager.
• IFP project manager reviews cases to determine appropriateness.
Cases deemed appropriate are assigned to IFP in-home therapists.
Initial Contact/Intake Process
Participation in the IFP program is voluntary.
Following a discussion with the DCF worker about the program's
services, the family needs to consent to participate. The Village
IFP worker, together with the DCF worker, make the initial
visit within 24 - 48 hours of the referral whenever possible.
During this initial home visit, the IFP worker describes
the program's scope and length of services and reinforces that
participation is voluntary.
Program Staff
The Village recognizes the cultural and ethnic
diversity of families in the greater Hartford area and has staffed
the IFP program with multicultural/bilingual professionals
(English/Spanish) able to effectively serve the client population.
Where to Call
To make a referral to the Intensive Family Preservation
program, call (860)297-0540.
Click
here for a printable brochure on the IFP program.
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Description of Program:
The Village Safe Home, located in the Brainard
Cottage on the beautifully-landscaped grounds of the Village
in Hartford, opened in September 1999. It is a short-term residential
facility for children removed from their homes for the first
time. The primary goal of the program is to offer a safe and
stabilizing environment for children who may have been neglected,
abused, abandoned or come from a chaotic home environment. The
program, funded by DCF, provides psycho/social assessments of
both the children in our care and their parents. Great care
is taken to develop a thoughtful permanency plan for the children
aimed at reducing the number of placements and the associated
trauma.
Children Served:
The Village Safe Home has the capacity to serve
16 children, primarily ages 3 to 12. The program also accommodates
0-3 year olds and children older than 12 as a means of maintaining
sibling groups. Keeping sibling groups intact reduces the trauma
that children experience when they are removed and separated
from their families.
Program Philosophy:
The Village Safe Home has a strong commitment
to concurrent permanency planning both from an operational and
advocacy role. Concurrent permanency planning involves a mix
of family-focused and child-centered casework/social work practices
aimed at achieving timely reunification, while at the same time
establishing an alternative contingency plan related to permanency
if reunification is not viable. Specific time frames are established
within the plan which reflect a child's sense of time and their
urgent need for stability and continuity in their family relationships.
This facilitates growth and development into psychologically,
socially and spiritually healthy adults.
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Description of Program:
The Village SANKOFA House, located in the Brainard
Cottage on the beautifully-landscaped grounds of the Village
in Hartford, opened in March 2003. It is a Permanency Diagnostic
Center that serves children ages 5-12 years, who have been disrupted
from foster care placement. This residential program provides
multi-disciplinary assessment to determine permanency, emotional
needs and therapeutic services, as needed.
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What is Adoption?
Adoption is a process that brings a child into
your home where you can give him or her all the love, care and
stability every child needs and deserves. The Village has brought
families and children together through adoption for nearly 200
years. We know it takes a special kind of love and commitment
to consider, prepare for and adopt a child.
What is Specialized Foster Care?
Specialized Foster Care (SFC) is a comprehensive,
intensive clinical treatment service utilizing therapeutic foster
families as treatment team members. Sometimes there is biological
family involvement. Often, collaboration with internal and external
systems is necessary to meet the treatment needs of the children.
Who are the children waiting for adoption/SFC?
The children waiting for permanent homes are of
all races, but many are African-American and Hispanic. They
are usually older; frequently boys, and sometimes they are sisters
and brothers who should live together. Many have emotional or
behavioral problems and many have lived in several foster homes.
Children waiting for adoptive homes all share the need to be
loved and they wish for a permanent caring family.
Is there special training required?
Yes. Foster and adoptive parents must participate
in an approval process which includes training and a home study
process, police and Department of Children and Families (DCF)
checks, physician statements for everyone living in the home,
and references.
What kind of time commitment
is involved for foster care parents?
Most children stay in their specialized foster
care homes for a period of one or two years, which is determined
by the treatment team and agreed upon by the foster parents.
This time helps children achieve emotional and behavioral stability
before returning to their biological families or moving into
alternative permanent homes.
Who can adopt or foster a
child through the Village?
Anyone who loves children, can be accepting
of a child’s background and behavior, and can provide
a loving, stable environment can adopt or provide foster care.
Adoptive/foster parents can be married or single. They do not
need to be wealthy or own their own homes. Our f amilies are
of all races, with varied educational and religious backgrounds.
They are flexible and share a willingness to commit to a child.
How does the Village prepare and support foster
and adoptive families?
We offer:
• Informational meetings for anyone interested in adoption/foster
care.
• A parent preparation series for prospective families
where they can learn about children waiting for adoption and
foster care and meet families who have adopted/fostered.
• Preparation of a home study.
• Assistance with the legal papers needed by the probate
court to finalize the adoption.
• Post-adoption support services, including a monthly
adoptive parents support group.
• On-call support service.
• Ongoing training for foster/adoptive parents.
How can I learn more about adoption and foster
care at the Village?
Simply pick up the phone and call Intake Services
(860) 297-0555 at the Village.
Or, attend one of our upcoming informational meetings at the
Village South, 331 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford. All meetings
are are from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. No registration is required. Prospective adoptive and foster families have
the opportunity to ask questions of Village adoption staff and
also talk with adoptive and foster parents about their experiences.
Thursday, June 14
Thursday, July 12
Thursday, August 10
Thursday, September 13
Thursday, October 11
Thursday, November 8
Thursday, December 13
Click
here for a printable brochure on the Village's Adoption and
Foster Care services.
Click
here for a printable brochure on the Village's HAPPY program.
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A way you can make a difference in the life
of a child...
You can make a difference by becoming a specialized
foster care parent and providing a healing family living experience
for an emotionally disturbed child.
Specialized foster care parents are specially selected and trained
to be part of a therapeutic team. Each child receives weekly therapy
and has a social worker who collaborates with birth and foster
parents, children, schools and community resources to insure the
best possible environment for the child.
Specialized foster care parents play a significant
role in the success of a child's treatment. They give love and
support and a safe environment that is essential for any child
to succeed. They also follow an in-home treatment plan to address
the child's emotional and behavioral needs.
Are there special qualities that are necessary
to be a successful specialized foster care parent?
Yes, the most successful
specialized foster care parents are people who have:
• An ability to work with children whose behavior is difficult
and whose emotions are fragile.
• A willingness to work with the child's birth parents.
• A well-balanced home life and the capacity to love,
accept and care for someone else's child as a member of the
family.
• A commitment to work with agency staff as a member of
the child's treatment team.
• The resources to transport the child to the agency for
weekly or more frequent therapy sessions.
Are there approvals or special training required?
Yes. First, candidates
must participate in six initial three-hour assessment sessions
(a total of 18 hours) to determine if they will proceed with
becoming a foster parent. Then they must pass a licensing process
which includes a home study, police and state Department of
Children and Families (DCF) checks, physician statements for
everyone living in the home and references. They must also meet
state licensing standards. Foster parents are required to attend
a training series of 18 or more hours during the licensing process,
and to complete 16 hours of professional development training
to be relicensed each year.
What kind of time commitment is involved?
Most children stay in their specialized foster
care homes for one or two years, which is determined by the
treatment team and agreed upon by the foster parents. This time
is required to help children achieve emotional and behavioral
stability before returning to their biological families or moving
into alternative permanent homes.
Who are these children?
These children generally range in age from preschool
to 12. Babies may be part of the program but usually only when
they are being treated with older siblings. The children served
by the program suffer from moderate to severe emotional problems.
Most of them exhibit average mental and physical capabilities.
Emotional difficulties for these children may result in their
being fearful, confused and unable or unwilling to trust adults.
They often have problems in school and difficulties getting
along with others. They may feel unworthy and unlovable. They
may have tantrums, be oppositional, exhibit hyperactivity or
present behavior problems.
All efforts are made to determine that the children
do not pose unreasonable risks of harm to themselves or others.
Children are often, but not always, matched with foster families
of similar racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
What financial assistance and other services
are provided?
Specialized foster care parents receive:
• A per diem amount to reimburse foster parents for the
costs of daily living for the child.
• Reimbursement for necessary out-of-pocket expenses such
as mileage.
• A monthly clothing allowance for the child.
• A Title XIX card for the child's medical expenses.
• Services of a social worker for advice and counseling
regarding the child's care and treatment and crisis support
24 hours a day.
• Support services from one of two locations: the Village's
main campus on Albany Avenue, and the Village South Center for
Community Life on 331 Wethersfield Avenue.
• Training seminars and special pro grams to increase
the fosterparents knowledge and ability to care for disturbed
children.
Who to contact?
For more information on specialized foster care,
simply contact the Village at 236-4511 and ask to speak to a
specialized foster care social worker.
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Ask foster parent Virginia Andrews
what the best piece of advice she could give, not only to other
foster parents, but parents in general, and she promptly replies,
"Don't criticize; you have to give people room to grow."
And grow is exactly what many children have done in the Andrews
household, where Virginia and her husband, Henry, have helped
many foster children over the years. One social worker noted that
"Mrs. Andrews makes it clear to the children placed in her
home that they are not alone. She tell the children, we're in
this together,' and she will do anything she can to help the children
get through really tough times."
Her patience and non-judgmental nature have proven
to be valuable qualities, which are desirable qualities in foster
parents. Mrs. Andrews recalled how when four-year-old "T."
first arrived at her home he was still in diapers, would not speak,
or make eye contact, was afraid of the bathroom and too frightened
to sleep alone in his room. She bought him a portable potty for
his bedroom and placed a mat on the floor near her bed for him
to sleep on if he became scared. Today, he uses the bathrooms,
sleeps in his own room, speaks and offers lots of smiles and hugs.
Mrs. Andrews stated "I concentrate on the small
successes of the here and now." She further stated, "The
main thing that you have to do for children is be there for them.
Listen; really listen to what they have to say. They are not always
direct about what they have to say, but when you talk regularly,
it clears out a lot of issues." According to Mrs. Andrews,
family talks are a part of life in their household. She pointed
out that children need structure and the family promptly sets
ground rules when a new foster child comes in. She was quick to
add that the rules apply adult household members as well.
Just as she has done for her biological children,
Mrs. Andrews is strong advocate for her foster children. She noted
when her current child was in kindergarten, she attended more
meetings on his behalf than she every-did. He had the tendency
to act out in school and it reached a point where the teacher
would call her to help calm him down. By remaining calm on the
phone, Mrs. Andrews was able to help the child stop his temper
tantrums. During those times, if she felt the school's approach
was not in the child's best interest, she would speak up on behalf
of the child.
"During one of my home visits, T. arrived home
from school with pant pockets pinned shut," recalled Social
Worker, Dorothy Richards, who works with the then 5-year-old,
his foster and biological families. "Mrs. Andrews contacted
the school and asked why his pockets were pinned." When they
explained that he constantly kept his hands in his pockets, she
explained to them how he had only recently started to dress himself
and putting his hands in his pockets was his way of showing that
he was a big boy. Ms. Richards added that along with being a strong
advocate for the child, Mrs. Andrews is an all around team player.
This is evident in her work with Village social worker, DCF, child's
teachers and child's biological family.
Recently, Mrs. Andrews work with the child's biological
family became more evident when T's mother died. She prepared
the child for each step from his visit with his mother in the
hospital to her funeral. Additionally, she was very supportive
to the child's maternal grandmother.
The Andrews family were foster parents to a sibling
group of three, and the two younger siblings reunited with their
biological father, while their older brother remained in the Andrews
home where he had lived since he was 8-years-old. Mrs. Andrews
made the effort to help her foster son keep in touch with his
siblings. Additionally, she coached the biological father when
his children were returned to his care. "At first, I'd give
advice and see that he was resentful, by years passed, and he
still calls for advice now and then. I'm never critical of parents;
I look for the good intentions each has and work with that."
According to Mrs. Andrews, her now 21-year-old former
foster child, whom she fostered from age 8-18, is currently serving
in the armed service. This young went to the Andrews home following
multiple hospitalizations and years of fighting depression. Even
though he is an adult, she and her husband still serves as his
parents. When things are going well for him, or when they are
not going so well, he contacts the family; particularly Mrs. Andrews.
Additionally, he spends his leave from the service with the Andrews.
Mrs. Andrews attends foster parent training regularly.
She noted that not only are the presentations informative, but
the support group meetings held at the Village for foster parents
have also been helpful, providing her with useful tips from her
peers.
When asked whether or not it's painful to
return foster children to their biological parents after investing
so much time and energy in them and developing caring relationships,
Mrs. Andrews reflected for a moment before responding. "There
are tow things," she said, "the first is the satisfaction
I feel in seeing in seeing the difference we made in the child
and how he has grown since coming t our home. And the second is
that letting go of our children, whether they be foster or our
own, is part of the normal cycle of thing. I grew in a family
where we share, listen, have respect and consideration for each
other. If I can teach some of that to the children, I feel that
I've done well. Besides, the learning is mutual. These children
have taught me to take it a day at a time and learn to appreciate
the little things."
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Read the current Permanency
Newsletter - pdf
Link
to DCF- Children available for Adoption
