Foster Care
Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) serves children and adolescents whose special needs limit their success in traditional foster care. TFC includes both Treatment Level and Agency Based Foster Care services. TFC youth live with highly trained foster parents and receive services to help them succeed at home, in school and in other community settings. Additionally, TFC works with the biological families to prepare them for reunification with the youth. A youth graduates from the program when he or she meets treatment goals, and a stable and permanent home environment is identified and prepared.
Respite Care
Respite Care Services offer foster or biological parents occasional breaks from the everyday stresses caused by parenting. Respite is designed to give children an opportunity to have positive interactions with other appropriate people besides their foster or biological families.
Home Studies
BHS has staff available to complete home studies for prospective adoptive, foster and relative placements for children. Home studies include gathering a comprehensive history of the family as well as completing background checks.
Family Support/Community Treatment Aid
The Family Support (FSP) and Community Treatment Aid (CTA) programs
serve to enhance and strengthen a family’s capacity to function
independently. FSP/CTA Specialists demonstrate, educate and empower
families to create a healthy and positive home environment; ensure
proper care, safety and guidance of children; create alternative support
systems; and achieve self-sufficiency.
Family Support and Community Treatment Aide Specialists usually meet
with parent, youth or the entire family in their home, school or
community setting to provide education, assistance, crisis intervention
and support.
Parent Assist
In connection with the Madison County Juvenile Justice System, Parent Assist Service is designed to assist parents with “at risk” youth by educating them on how to set rules, expectations and consequences and by providing them with information to additional resources.
Melissa
Murphy, MS, Director of Youth and Family Services, obtained
her Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology from Illinois State
University in May 2005. Melissa has over 8 years of experience
working with youth and families and has served as a Child and Family
Services Specialist with Nebraska Health and Human Services. She is
trained in the Battelle Developmental Inventory and specializes in
family violence, child safety, attachment, and child development.