Therapeutic Foster Care

Helping youth and families create a better future for themselves...

Campagna Academy's Therapeutic Foster Care Program uses a teaching model, which is strength-based and has been proven effective in establishing appropriate roles and functioning for the family. With more than 56 years of experience in working with youth and families, Campagna Academy is uniquely qualified to teach prospective foster parents the mentoring skills necessary to be successful, as well as accessibility to continued support. Foster parents, while working as part of a team with social service staff and other professionals, provide the assistance and encouragement needed by the child to thrive physically, emotionally, and socially.

Foster children available through our program are primarily teenagers in need of positive role models to assist them in learning life skills to move them towards independence and self sufficiency. When appropriate, our staff facilitates interaction between the foster child and his/her biological family.

Children placed in Foster Care

A child or teenager is usually placed into foster care due to a combination of factors that include:

• Neglect or abandonment
• Family stress caused by divorce, separation, mental illness, or substance abuse;
• Illness or death of a parent or guardian
• Terminated parental rights, with the child awaiting adoptive placement
• Behavioral challenges due to emotional disabilities; physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

Foster Parent Services

Our Foster care program does not exclude individuals who are interested in becoming a foster parent due to race, national origin, religious belief, or marital status. Potential foster parents should be of good moral character, be patient and caring, possess sound physical and mental health, and be capable of providing a safe, clean living environment for foster children/teenager(s). In addition, prospective foster parents should be willing to learn or have good parenting skills and have the energy, willingness, and time to invest in the lives of foster children/teenager(s).

Qualifications of Foster Parents

• Be at least 21 years of age or older
• Possess clear background checks
• Provide verifiable personal references
• Own or rent a home or apartment
• Provide proof of residential insurance (homeowner or rental)
• Provide adequate space for foster children/teenager(s)
• Prove financial stability, i.e., consistently receive an income
• Be able to offer available time to devote to foster children/teenager(s)
• Exhibit availability and the ability to work with facility therapist and other providers
• Understand that the placement is temporary to no more than three foster children/teenager(s) at a time
• Be able to understand and show acceptance of the child/children's biological parents

Foster Parent Services

Once approved, foster parents undergo a thirty-hour training that covers child development and disciplinary issues. Both the foster parent have the opportunity to be involved in peer support groups and training workshops related to issues, such as communication, teamwork, transitioning, foster care, divorce, loss of a loved one, among others.

The foster parent and child will receive regular ongoing therapy by an assigned Master-level degreed therapist based on individual needs, as well as:

• Pre-service training and licensing
• Monthly peer support groups and training workshops
• Case management services and crisis intervention, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
• Respite care
• Educational and court advocacy

Licensing Process

We assist and supervise potential foster parents, individuals or married couples, with support and counseling throughout the licensing process. Together we identify individual parenting strengths and skills, working to make the best match for each placement.

Licensing Requirements

• 30 hours of pre-service training
• Home study
• Physical examination and TB test (foster parent)
• Criminal background record check
• Age requirement of 21 years or older
• A functioning telephone
• Access to transportation
• Bedroom space for each foster child
• Adequate income to financially support one's own family without reliance on the monthly stipend given for the foster child

For more information, please contact Melissa Hernandez at (219)322-8614, extension 396