Therapeutic Foster Care: What Is It?
Therapeutic foster care is a type of treatment for a child. As a foster parent, you are a part of the team in implementing this treatment. QYS works in supporting the child and you throughout their treatment to achieve their goals. We teach you how to assist with behavior tracking, meeting with a care manager, and accompanying a child to scheduled therapy meetings. The objective of treatment is to assist the child in becoming ready for adoption or returning home. The youth's acuity level, diagnosis, and treatment plan all influence how long they spend in your home.
We Support Our Therapeutic Foster Parents
When you work with QYS as a therapeutic foster parent, you will also have access to a team of professionals who will be there for you and your foster child as you adjust to living together. Therapeutic foster parents are never alone and can call on support at any time of day or night.
Qualifications to Become a Therapeutic Foster Parent?
We personally believe that there is a child for every home, and therapeutic foster parents come from a variety of backgrounds. You must not have been convicted of a felony in the previous five years, be a sexual or violent offender, or live with someone who has. If you want to foster a child, you must be at least 21 years old and have a bedroom where they can sleep. You will not qualify if you currently have children in the custody of the state.
Foster Parent Training and Education
We offer books, classes, and online training for our therapeutic foster and respite parents, so you can choose the method that best suits your needs. Training for therapeutic foster parents can be completed at your own pace. Support groups, parenting classes, and online training are the means by which we provide our therapeutic foster parents with ongoing training assistance. Since this is a team effort, we support you and a child with all of our resources during training, while they are in your home, and after they have left your home.
Expectations of Children in Foster Care?
Every foster child has been through some kind of trauma. Children between the ages of 0 and 18 who require a placement are referred to us. We also have youths placed with us from other agencies. Children in our foster care exhibit a wide range of traumatic temperaments and behaviors. Some of our children adjust well, while others have more trouble. We will not place any child in your home unless you are fully aware of their background and our team feels like they are the right fit. We can work to place therapeutic foster parents in situations that meet their gender, age range, or behavioral preferences.
We teach you how to promote healthy habits for you and your foster child backed by psychological studies and data. There are ways to help a child process and thrive in the face of trauma, grief, loss, tragedy, and adversity. Below are some of the methods we teach to each parent involved in our program:
Creating Connection
Children gain the sense of community and security they need to foster feelings of self-worth, purpose, and belonging by being supported and maintaining healthy connections. You can do this by enrolling them in clubs, groups, school events, or sports that they have expressed an interest in.
Building Competence
By cultivating your child's abilities and strengths, you can help them feel competent. They will feel better about themselves as a result, and it will inspire them to be confident and step outside of their comfort zone. This results in the development of new abilities and strengths for the future.
Coping Skills
Anything we do to deal with emotional stress or complex challenges can be considered a coping strategy. By teaching children about the significance of effective coping strategies, providing examples, and providing them with opportunities to put their newfound skills into practice, you can encourage healthy coping.
Building Character
Awareness of one's own personal values, what is right and wrong, and how to control oneself are all important components of character. This is something you can verbally discuss with a child and that is strongly influenced by the example you set for them through your own actions.
Building Confidence
Kids who are self-assured are more likely to persevere in the face of difficulties, are better able to recover from difficult situations, and feel more empowered to navigate new situations. By encouraging children to explore age-appropriate tasks to discover their gifts, you can boost confidence.
Allowing Healthy Control
Give children a chance to feel like they have control. They will gain a sense of capability and develop critical thinking skills as a result of this, boosting their self-esteem and competence.
Contribution Skills
Children have a better outlook on the world when they are given the opportunity to give back to it. You can guide them to things like volunteer work. This also increases their willingness to make choices that improve their environment, which creates competence, character, and a sense of connection.