Therapeutic Foster Care

Therapeutic Foster Care

Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Program Overview

Eks Aidmore’s Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Program is a specialized.community-based initiative designed to support children and young adults ages 0-21who require out-of-home placement due to serious emotional and behavioral challenges, psychiatric diagnoses, involvement with the juvenile justice system, developmental delays, or individualized educational plans (EPs). This program is tailored for youth in foster care with complex emotional, behavioral, or medical needs, providing a nurturing family environment combined with structured, therapeutic support to prevent placement in more restrictive institutional settings.

Program Highlights:

• Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Training: Therapeutic foster parents and staff receive extensive pre-service and annual training rooted in trauma-informed and child-centered care practices. This equips caregivers to address the unique challenges and needs of the children and youth placed in their homes.
• Individualized, Integrated Therapeutic Services: Each child and youth is guided by an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that includes therapy (individual, family, and group as needed) through approved Medicaid providers. Additional wraparound services, such as behavioral aides, family intervention, and community support partners, are provided based on individual needs.
• Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding the deep impact of trauma, the TFC Program emphasizes creating safe, stable environments where foster families are empowered with the tools and skills necessary to foster healing and emotional growth
• Holistic Skill Development and Enrichment: Children and youth are encouraged to engage in extracurricular and community-based activities that build social skills, promote self-confidence, and support personal development.

Specialized Care for Complex-Needs Youth

The TFC Program supports children, adolescents, and young adults with significant trauma histories, developmental and intellectual disabilities, physical chal- lenges, and complex medical conditions. Foster parents undergo a rigorous selection process, in-depth training, and ongoing professional support to ensure the highest standard of care that promotes resilience and well-being.

Collaborative, Child-Centered Approach

Elks Aidmore’s TFC Program operates with a strong team-based philosophy, working in partnership with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) case managers, therapists, birth families, family consultants, and behavioral specialists. This collaborative approach ensures every child and youth receives coordinated, wraparound services and is actively supported on their journey toward permanency and stability.
For questions regarding admission in the residential program, transitional living program and independent living program please contact us at 770-483-3535 or by email at our centralized email: intake@elksaidmore.com

THERAPUTIC FOSTER CARE CONSIDERATION CRITERIA

Boys and girls age 4-18 Referrals are accepted through the Department of Family and Children Services, and the Multi Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC).

Favorable Criteria:

Youth who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment and have experienced trauma and need a safe place to heal from the emotional effects of the trauma; of average intelligence and able to function in a public-school setting.

Unfavorable Criteria:

Chemically dependent individuals, those who have exhibited aggressive or dangerous behaviors to self or others (needing 24-hour, secure supervision); individuals with histories of dangerous crimes (arson, assault, weapons charges, etc.); severely developmentally delayed and/or neurological impaired youth, individuals expressing active suicidal ideations, youth who have not been stabilized in psychotropic medications (60 days or more) or on medications which cannot be safely administered and monitored by foster parents, those diseased to the point of endangering other members in the household. It is the policy of Elks Aidmore, Inc., that no youth shall be allowed to smoke or use any other tobacco products.
Through this trauma-informed, family-focused model, the Thera- peutic Foster Care Program em- powers children and youth to heal, grow, and thrive in a supportive home environment, building the foundation for brighter futures.

Program Goals: Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC)

Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Program Overview
Elks Aidmore’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program is guided by a set of core goals that reflect our commitment to the well-being, stability, and long-term success of the children and youth we serve. These goals are central to creating a nurturing, trauma-informed, and family-centered care experience.

Provide a Therapeutic Family Environment:

Create safe, stable, and emotionally supportive foster homes that promote healing, trust, and a sense of belonging.

Deliver Individualized, Trauma-Informed Care:

Address the unique emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs of each child and youth through personalized service plans that integrate clinical, educational, and supportive services.

Promote Permanency and Stability:

Work collaboratively with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), therapists, and birth families to achieve timely, stable permanency outcomes-whether through reunification, adoption, or independent living.

Improve Behavioral and Emotional Regulation:

Equip children and youth with coping strategies and therapeutic tools to manage trauma, regulate emotions, and reduce behavioral disruptions.

Enhance Developmental and Educational Achievement:

Support academic progress, developmental growth, and age-appropriate milestones through tailored services, advocacy, and close coordination with schools and specialists.

Foster Social and Life Skills Development:

Encourage engagement in extracurricular activities and community involvement to build resilience, self-confidence, and healthy peer relationships.

Empower and Support Therapeutic Foster Families:

Provide foster parents with in-depth training, ongoing guidance, and trauma-informed strategies to ensure they are well-equipped to meet the complex needs of the children and youth in their care.

Prevent Placement Disruptions:

Offer proactive, community-based interventions and support services to stabilize placements and minimize transitions to higher levels of care.

Address Health and Medical Needs:

Ensure comprehensive care coordination and access to necessary medical, dental, and mental health
services-especially for children and youth with intensive health needs.

Advocate for Holistic Well-Being:

Promote overall wellness by addressing the mental, emotional, physical, and social health of every child and youth through an integrated and collaborative approach.

These goals reflect the TFC Program’s mission: to help children and youth overcome adversity, build resilience, and thrive in a compassionate, family-centered environment.