Specalized Foster Care
Many of today’s children are faced with a multitude of pressures, one of which is the decline of the family structure. Through the Specalized Foster Care (SFC) program supervised by clinical staff from the Harpst Campus, children age 6-17 can be placed in a stable home environment with highly trained “parents” who are equipped to offer the emotional and therapeutic support they need to continue developing into healthy and happy individuals. Here the children are offered many opportunities to be involved with the community in which they live while attending public school. Each SFC family is trained to use similar behavioral modification systems, rules and guidelines used in the Harpst residential treatment program. During times of unusual stress and/or if the child experiences a difficult setback, respite services are provided for the family while the child is readmitted to the Harpst campus for a period of stabilization and further treatment if necessary.
As the child becomes more developmentally mature, the behavior modification techniques will eventually be internalized and no longer needed as an external motivator. Now rules are generally appreciated and obeyed, an appreciation of one’s self and others has developed, and the child’s life moves toward greater normalcy.
A child can be referred to SFC directly from the OASIS program, through transition from the Harpst residential treatment program once treatment is successfully completed, or by referral from other sources.
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