 ...Ordinary
Families Doing Extraordinary Things!
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Contact our foster care
coordinator!
« Brochure
«
What is treatment foster care?
« Types of kids who
are referred
« How is CCR different
from other agencies?
« Is it possible to be
a part-time foster parent...provide respite care?
«
License requirements information
«
Policy and procedure
« F.A.Q.
« How the licensing
process works
« Would I make a good
treatment foster parent?
« What are the qualifications
to become a CCR respite provider?
« Why would I want
to be a respite provider?
While foster parenting can be a very challenging
endeavor, it can also be a most rewarding experience. It offers
the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life as
well as making a significant contribution to society as a whole.
Every child needs a positive adult role model in his or her life
in order to grow and mature into a healthy individual. Your ability
to provide a nurturing, stable family environment can be a very
effective means of helping a child to succeed in life.
Foster children are referred from county Departments of Human
Services all over the state and typically range in age from 9-18.
The children and youth in general have some type of emotional
or behavioral issues that they are dealing with.
What is treatment foster care?
Treatment foster care is an out-of-home placement in a family
setting under the supervision and support of a Clinical Case Manager
and other team members, such as social workers, therapists, and
psychiatrists. During the placement, the child or youth is expected
to address treatment goals related to his/her behavioral and emotional
dysfunction. The foster parents are trained by C.C.R. to work
with the child so that he/she can improve his/her behavior and
learn to interact with others in healthier ways. To assist with
this process, the Clinical Case Manager will meet with the child
or youth and the foster parents in their home, on a weekly basis
and help coordinate services with other service providers, and
maintain regular contact with the child or youth’s county
social worker and biological family.
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Types of kids who are referred.
Josh age 9
He has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder) and he takes medication to help settle him, and enable
him to concentrate and focus better at school. Josh wets his bed
many nights. He does not deal with frustration well, and sometimes
has tantrums. Josh has been in two previous foster placements,
and has been hospitalized in a child psychiatric hospital ward
when he became out of control and unmanageable. He is in special
education in school, in the 3rd grade. Josh has difficulty getting
along with other children, and does not handle conflict well.
Josh has a grandmother, who calls him regularly, but her health
is poor, and she is unable to have him come to live with her.
Josh is on a Child in Need of Protection & Services court
order (Chips) because he experienced abuse by his mother's boyfriend.
Melissa age 14
She has school issues; she skips school, and does not perform
well when she does attend. Teachers like her, she has a friendly
personality, but she is a difficult child for them to manage at
school. Melissa is several years behind on school credits due
to poor attendance and poor performance. She also sneaks out of
the home, running away for short periods with negative peers.
She has experimented with alcohol and marijuana, and has been
sexually active. Melissa was sexually abused from age 5-10 by
several perpetrators. She cuts superficially on her arms, legs
and stomach, and has some piercings which she and a friend did
(through her eyebrow, her navel, and several piercings through
her ears.) Melissa can be sweet and winsome, and she can also
be manipulative and argumentative. She has been diagnosed with
features of borderline personality disorder, and also with a mood
disorder. Melissa has been hospitalized several times, and has
had her stomach pumped more than once after taking pills. Melissa
is very attention seeking, and likes to wear loud colorful clothing,
jewelry, and to dye her hair unnatural colors. She has been in
group home care and in several foster placements in the past.
Thomas age 15
Mixed racial child, African-American and Latino, He likes to portray
himself as a gangster. Thomas has engaged in some criminal activity
including retail theft, operating a vehicle without owners consent
(car theft,) vandalism and criminal damage to property. Respect
for authority is an issue for him. He resists following rules,
and does not show remorse when he is confronted about his behavior.
Thomas has convictions on his record and the court is considering
corrections for Thomas, but is going to try treatment foster care
first to see if higher structure and monitoring can cause some
changes in his behavior and criminal thinking patterns. Thomas
is on a delinquency court order. Thomas expresses
distrust for most adults. He is diagnosed with conduct disorder.
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How is CCR different from other agencies?
• All our workers have their Master’s Degrees and
are trained mental health clinicians.
• Foster parents receive a great deal of support in doing
this work including weekly home visits with a Clinical Case Manager,
and phone support between meetings.
• We provide Excellent on call support – Foster Parents
are able to reach a Clinical Case Manager, 24 hours a day 7 days
a week.
• We offer extensive training opportunities to expand the
Foster Parents knowledge and skills.
• CCR offers out-patient programs including STOP, our sexual
abuse treatment for offenders or victims & psychological evaluations
by a licensed psychologist.
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It is possible to be a “Part-time”
Foster Parent...Provide Respite Care?
One can see what treatment foster care is like, and what our population
of children is like, by providing respite care. It may be a one
time stay at your home, or a regularly scheduled visit by the
same child. Respite care is a short term break provided periodically
for our foster families. If the foster parents want an evening
out, or a weekend off, care for the foster child is provided by
a certified respite provider. Respite providers can care for a
foster child for up to 72 hours, either in the foster home or
the respite provider's home. Providing respite care is a way to
help support our foster families and to work with the children
we have in care, without making a full time 24/7 commitment to
have the child live with you. All respite providers must be certified,
and able to provide quality, reliable temporary care consistent
with the child's treatment plan. For respite certification forms
go to the forms section, open the section, and click on "respite."
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F.A.Q.
What are the responsibilities of a foster parent?
C.C.R. foster parents are committed to the treatment foster youth
and have the skills necessary to effectively work with this challenging
population. Foster parents are viewed as a vital part of the child’s
treatment and are expected to play a central role in facilitating
treatment. Other responsibilities include but are not limited
to the following:
• Maintain a safe, clean living environment.
• Provide adequate direct supervision for children placed
in the home.
• Schedule and transport to all appointments, court hearings,
and family visits.
• Enroll and monitor the child’s progress in school.
• Encourage and support child’s involvement in school
and community activities.
• Provide age appropriate allowance and clothing expenditure
of a minimum of $50 per month.
• Availability for weekly meetings with the Clinical Case
Manager.
• Positive and professional interaction with school, community,
and mental health providers.
• Maintenance of accurate records and completion of monthly
paperwork regarding the child.
• Compliance with training requirements of 24 hours minimum
per year per foster parent.
What are the benefits for foster parents?
Foster parents can earn tax free from $900 to $2000 per month
depending on their level of skill and experience, completion of
required training hours, and the difficulty level of the youth’s
needs. Foster parents are also provided with a minimum of one
respite day per month per child, again depending on the needs
and complexity of behavioral treatment issues of the child. In
addition, opportunities for training are offered by the agency
at multiple sites to assist with developing the skills necessary
for foster parenting.
What support services are offered by C.C.R.?
Once you become licensed, each foster family is assigned a Clinical
Case Manager. Every CCM holds a Master’s Degree in Social
Work or a related field. The CCM provides weekly face-to-face
contact with the foster parents to assist in the coordination
of case planning and the treatment implementation. The CCM also
serves as a liason with the school, mental health providers, law
enforcement, and the county social worker. Foster parents are
provided with 24 hour on-call crisis support by phone in the event
of an emergency situation involving a foster child. In addition,
opportunities for training and support are available on a monthly
basis.
How long will the child be placed in foster care?
The length of a placement varies depending upon each individual
situation. However, placements generally can last anywhere from
six to fifteen months.
Do
I get to choose the child that is placed in my home?
Foster parents are given the opportunity to review information
about a child as well as consult with their CCM regarding appropriateness
of the child for their family. In many cases, foster parents also
have a pre-placement visit with the child before making a final
decision.
Where do treatment foster care kids come from?
Children are referred for placement in treatment foster care from
County Human Service Departments throughout the State of Wisconsin.
Therefore, you could receive a child from any County in the State.
Where will the child attend school?
When placed in foster care the child will attend school in the
district within which the foster home is located.
Can I become a foster parent if I have children of my own?
Will they be safe?
Many of our foster parents have children of their own. The safety
of biological children is of primary importance and, thus, a child
who may present a safety risk due to issues such as physical aggression
or sexual acting out will not be placed in a home with younger
children.
Can I work while I am a treatment foster parent?
The ideal model for C.C.R. foster homes requires that one parent
be in the home or at least be available at all times.
Can the child accompany us on vacation? To church?
Foster children can accompany their foster families to church
or on vacations. However, permission to do so must be granted
by the child’s parent or legal guardian, who may exercise
the right not to allow the child to participate in such activities.
Can I adopt a foster child?
In some instances, where parental rights have been terminated
by the court, foster parents may adopt a child out of foster care.
What happens if the placement doesn’t work out?
When a placement appears to be failing, a more intense clinical
review of the case will be initiated in the interest of maintaining
the placement. If these efforts are unsuccessful, other placement
options will be explored and pursued.
How long does it take to become licensed?
The licensing process takes approximately 30-60 days depending
on completion of all required training and paperwork by the foster
parents.
Who pays for medical and dental services?
Youth are issued a Medical Assistance card at the time of placement
in foster care which covers medical, dental, vision and psychiatric
services. Foster parents are not responsible for any medical expenses.
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Would I make a good treatment foster
parent?
Would I be willing and able to deal with kids who have emotional
and behavioral issues? Examples include:
• Emotional and Behavioral Issues
• Difficulty getting along with others (argues, bullies,
etc.)
• Verbal outbursts
• Aggressiveness
• Anger Management Issues
• Oppositional and Defiant behavior
• Truancy
• Running Away
• Alcohol and Drug Issues
• Impulsivity and poor judgment
• Tantrums
• Poor Coping Skills
• Trauma victim/sexual abuse victimization
• Cognitive limitations
• Learning Disabilities
The foster youth exhibit some of these behaviors at any given
time. It is not all and always.
Do I have the time and energy to devote to a needy youth?
• either parent Must be available to supervise a youth at
all times
• We prefer a two-parent family with one stay at home parent.
Am I familiar with or willing to learn about children’s
mental health issues?
How does my family react in stressful situations?
• Treatment foster kids can raise the stress level in a
family.
Do I have the physical and emotional room for a treatment
foster child?
• It is better for a foster child to not share a bedroom
with a biological child.
Would my own hobbies or children’s activities interfere
with supporting a needy youth? Am I too busy to take on the responsibility
of foster parenting?
Do I have a large family?
• Many county social workers prefer not to place youth with
a large family.
Do I have medical or mental health issues which interfere
with my everyday life?
• We do not discriminate towards people with disabilities,
however we may ask for a letter from your physician or mental
health professional verifying your status.
Am
I financially stable to provide for my family’s needs?
• State law requires that treatment foster parents are financially
stable.
Wisconsin State Statute HFS 38.05(2)(a-e) Treatment Foster Care
for Children requires that treatment foster parents must have
at least two of the following five characteristics.
– A minimum of one year experience fostering children
– A minimum of 5 years experience working with or parenting
children.
– A minimum of 500 hours of experience as a respite provider.
– A high school diploma or equivalent (GED/HSED).
– A substantial relationship with the child to be placed.
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What are the qualifications to
become a CCR respite provider?
21 years old, at least 5 years older than the child being cared
for, have experience or training working with children, especially
with children with special needs, accept responsibility, be reliable,
flexible, work independently, exercise good judgment, maintain
confidentiality, authorize the agency to conduct background checks
(including criminal records, & any offenses against children
through Child Protective Services,) provide proof of vehicle insurance
and a valid drivers license, become familiar with foster care
rules and regulations and abide by them, have one's home inspected
for compliance if respite is provided in one's home and be physically
able to provide the care needed.
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Why would I want to be a respite
provider?
It is a way to help support foster families and children and can
be both challenging and rewarding. It is a way families who are
not able to make a full commitment to provide foster care full
time can still become involved in helping troubled youth. Sometimes
it is a first step toward becoming a foster parent by "trying
it out" on a limited basis.
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For more information, please
contact our Foster Care Coordinator:
Paula Becker, Foster Care Coordinator
Paula@CommunityCareResources.com
1-800-799-0450
Community Care Resources, Inc
6717 Stone Glen Drive
Middleton WI 53562
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