Family Based Foster Care Services
At Family Care for Children & Youth, Inc. we understand that childhood and adolescence can be difficult to navigate for children who do not have a stable home environment. Many children in the foster care system feel isolated, alienated, and afraid. Many of these children are often sent to group homes or institutions, which cannot provide the invaluable family living experience. Our Family Based Foster Care Program provides an alternative to group homes, instead allowing children to be raised in a family environment. As a vital alternative, a foster family is specifically selected and trained to deal with a child’s unique needs and help the child to grow and thrive in a family.
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Our Goals at Family Care for Children & Youth, Inc.:
- Provide children with a physically and emotionally safe environment
- Act as a safe and supportive alternative to group homes and institutions
- Promote a sense of belonging
- Minimize trauma
- Improve well-being
Family-based foster care services Pennsylvania
Family Based Services focus on the development of the child or adolescent. Great faith is placed in the ability of the youth to move past difficulties and create positive relationships, coping skills, and a plan for their future. Family Based Foster Care can help children learn ways to fulfill their social roles, manage peer pressure, develop independent living skills, and become healthy and productive members of society.
Our foster families create close relationships with their foster children, and they model the roles of parent, provider, homemaker, and citizen. They provide help, guidance, and discipline according to the individual needs of the child. This is the genius of our Family Based Services; children can receive the help they need within the home environment. The goal of our agency is to support this process so the children can meet all their needs with the help of a supportive foster family.
While we cannot list every benefit in detail, some of the benefits of Family Based Services include:
Mental Wellness
Traumatic events and moving from home to home can be hard on children and young adults. Many develop depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses as a result. Although family-based foster care services cannot erase a difficult past, they can provide a stable and supportive environment in which a child can recover and grow.
Education
Many foster children have lower test scores, higher absenteeism, and a higher risk of dropping out than other children their age. Family-based services allow a child to settle into a single school and receive the attention they deserve in the classroom and at home. This, in turn, increases the likelihood that the child will do well in school and pursue higher education or a rewarding career.
Long-term Change
Our families help children learn independent living skills including cooking, personal care, and household management. Children who grow up in a stable home are more likely to replicate the positive and stable environment when they have a family of their own.
Socialization
Children placed in foster care are often behind when it comes to social skills and cultural norms. The children learn to model the behaviors of adults in their lives, gaining valuable social skills including manners, respect for others, and to value their own strengths.
Relationships and Trust
An unstable living environment can cause children to become untrusting and isolated. It takes time, attention, and dedicated care for these children to develop healthy, trusting relationships with peers and adults in their lives. Our Family Based Services are designed to help children create lasting relationships.
For more details on family-based foster care services or for information on foster care in Pennsylvania, contact FCCY today.