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Therapeutic Foster Care


WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE? 

Therapeutic Foster Care is a specialized program in which children with special emotional, behavioral, or psychological needs (i.e., who are unable to live with their birth family for variety of reasons) are placed with specially trained foster parent(s) who provide family-based treatment to help the child learn and develop new skills and coping strategies to live successfully in a family, community-based setting. The children often require more intensive supervision, counseling and support than a child typically placed in a regular foster home setting.

WHY BE A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENT?
  • You can be constructively involved in the lives of children who need a stable, loving, home environment.
  • You receive initial and ongoing training for this challenge that may also be useful in your own family.
  • You can make a difference for children who have nowhere else to go, allowing them to grow and learn under your guidance.
  • You receive continuing agency support, monthly training and emergency access to the program's professional staff 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
  • All payments to Therapeutic Foster parents are nontaxable income. Daily compensation ranges from $40-60 per day, per child.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILIES :
  • Families or single persons in the community who agree to accept youth into their homes.
  • Committed, stable, responsible adults, age 21 and over, who are capable of making good decisions in caring for children.
  • A genuine concern for the interest of the child and a commitment to work as a member of a professional treatment team.
  • Willingness to remain committed to the child while helping the child develop and learn new coping skills. Therapeutic parents must be willing to work through and tolerate difficult, intense and challenging behaviors. 
  • Respectful of individual differences with regard to race, religion, family and culture.
  • Accepting of the child’s natural family and willingness to work cooperatively toward reuniting the child with his or her family if appropriate.
THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CHILDREN
  • Range in age from 7-18 years. Program referrals are primarily for older children.
  • All races, cultures, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
  • A maximum of two children may be placed in your home, based on desire, available space and individual needs of the children.
  • Length of stay is based on the individual treatment needs of the child.
  • Common Behavioral-Emotional Problems of Therapeutic Foster Children: Oppositional Defiant, Depression, Adjustment Disorder, Anxiety, Substance Use/Abuse Issues, Learning Difficulties, School Behavioral Problems, School Suspensions, Sexual Abuse/Perpetration Issues, Attachment Issues, etc. 
COMPENSATION

A monetary value cannot be placed on the care and commitment provided by the therapeutic foster family to a troubled child. The time and effort put forth by the family in receiving continuous training, providing intensive family-based treatment, and providing day-to-day care for the special needs of the children placed in your care is modestly compensated at $40-$60 per day, per child, in your home. Most therapeutic homes are limited to one placement to maximize treatment effects for the child. On occasion, the program does place up to two children in a therapeutic home if the therapeutic parent is experienced and both children can receive the appropriate level of treatment and supervision in the home. 

BECOMING A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE FAMILY:

If you would like additional information about becoming a therapeutic foster care family with Wake County Human Services, call Program Director Jim Barbee at 212-8394. An agency staff person will be glad to explain the program in detail and answer any questions you may have. Upon request, we will send you an application packet with further details and instructions, and arrange a time to meet with you to discuss the program and to initiate the licensure process.

WHAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR THERAPEUTIC PARENTS?

Upon completion of MAPP classes, therapeutic parents receive nine (9) additional hours of training in the following areas before being licensed as a therapeutic foster care home:

  • Dynamics of emotionally disturbed and substance abusing youth and families
  • Symptoms of substance abuse and common psychiatric diagnoses
  • Needs of emotionally disturbed and substance abusing youth in family settings
  • Development of the treatment plan and effective intervention strategies
  • Medication Administration & Education on Common Psychiatric Medications
  • Crisis Intervention Strategies & Education.