Hillside Programs: Therapeutic Foster Care

PROGRAMS
Therapeutic Foster Care

Hillside's Therapeutic Foster Care program works with children ages 5-21 who have had chaotic childhood experiences and little or no exposure to stable family environments.

Hillside does not have emergency receiving facilities.

Hillside foster families are selected through an assessment process that includes specialized training, home consultations, and an evaluation of the family's ability to work with children who have emotional, behavioral, and sometimes, educational challenges.

Foster families receive continuous training related to the specific needs of the child. They are responsible for strengthening the child's self-confidence, modeling appropriate family roles, teaching responsible decision making, and helping the child learn skills necessary to live independently in the community.

Use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques is encouraged through an education program designed for foster parents' needs. The child, his foster family, and his birth family are assigned a DBT coach to learn new skills while participating in the DBT skills group. Individual DBT therapy sessions are also provided for the child.

A team approach is used to include the birth family, educators, foster family, family consultant, legal guardian, medical professionals, therapist and/or psychiatrist, CORE/MRO mental health providers, and most importantly, the child.

Pre-placement visits with the foster family ensure the child will make a successful transition. Hillside staff members coordinate appropriate educational placements, arrange for medical and psychiatric needs, provide 24-hour on-call support and case management, provide regular respite for the child and foster family, and ensure each child has an aftercare plan.

Therapeutic Foster Care families must meet the following requirements:

At least 21 years old

Family commitment to be a part of the treatment team working with challenging children and adolescents

High School diploma or equivalent

Three favorable references

Automobile and car insurance

Financially stable, as foster care per diem is not income. Prospective Foster Parents need to have income to manage household expenses.

One adult who does not work outside the home

Complete 36 hours of training to begin

Criminal history check for all adult household members

No confirmed history of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment

All household members must pass a medical exam

A drug screening is required for all household members 18 and over

Extensive in-home interviews

Safe home with adequate space for the addition of a child

This program also has a need for families willing to provide occasional respite for children in our program. Contact Helen Arnold for more information.

Download our Application for Admission (Adobe Acrobat Reader required) to complete and submit.

For additional information on Hillside’s Therapeutic Foster Care program contact Amy René at (404) 875-4551 ext 279 or by email at arene@hside.org.

To refer a child to Hillside’s Therapeutic Foster Care program contact Helen Arnold at (404) 875-4551 ext 282 or by email at harnold@hside.org.

To inquire on becoming a foster family to a child in need contact Helen Arnold at (404) 875-4551 ext 282 or by email at harnold@hside.org.

Hillside prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status.