CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF MERCER COUNTY

FAMILY FOCUS:THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY FOCUS PROGRAM ARE INTERACTIVE, RELATIONSHIP BASED, AND DESIGNED TO HELP PARENTS CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE HOME. SERVICES INCLUDE SELF-REGULATION, ECHO SYSTEMIC THERAPY AND 24/7 AVAILABILITY OF THE FAMILY FOCUS TEAM FOR CRISIS MITIGATION. THE GOALS DURING THIS 32-WEEK COURSE OF INTENSIVE THERAPY ARE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, FOSTER INDEPENDENCE, PROMOTE FAMILY SKILLS, AND TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATION OR OTHER OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT. THESE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO OFFER A RAPID RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY. DURING THE 2024 CALENDAR YEAR, THE FAMILY FOCUS PROGRAM STAFF OF THREE, AND PART OF THE YEAR, FOUR, AND PART OF THE YEAR, FIVE PROVIDED THERAPY TO 213 IDENTIFIED CLIENTS. AT THE CLOSE OF THE AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERIOD, 43% OF THE CLIENTS SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SCORE ON THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT SCALE.

ADOPTION AND PERMANENCY:THE SERVICES OF THE ADOPTION AND PERMANENCY DEPARTMENT FOCUS ON LOCATING A FOREVER HOME FOR REFERRED CHILDREN AND FOR FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE CHILD. THE FIRST SERVICE OFFERED BY THE PROGRAM IS WRITING A CHILD PROFILE, WHICH ENTAILS CREATING A DETAILED REPORT ON A CHILD'S HISTORY. THE NEXT AVAILABLE SERVICE IS CHILD PREPARATION, WHICH INCLUDES CREATION OF A LIFEBOOK (SCRAPBOOK) AND SESSIONS TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THE NEXT TRANSITION THEY WILL UNDERGO, WHETHER IT BE RETURNING TO THE BIRTH FAMILY, MOVING TO A GROUP HOME OR AN ADOPTIVE HOME OR AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND LIVING INDEPENDENTLY. CHILD SPECIFIC RECRUITMENT IS THE PROCESS WE USE TO MATCH A CHILD WITH A PROSPECTIVE FOREVER FAMILY OR WITH A CONNECTION FROM THEIR PAST THAT THE CHILD OR YOUTH CAN USE AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM. FOR THOSE CLIENTS AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM, OUR MENTORING SERVICE MATCHES THEM WITH A VOLUNTEER MENTOR THAT WILL BE A SUPPORT TO THEM AS THEY BEGIN LIVING AS AN INDEPENDENT ADULT. WE ALSO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO ARE ADOPTING. WE COMPLETE HOMESTUDIES AND FAMILY PROFILES THAT ASSIST IN BEING MATCHING WITH A PRE-ADOPTIVE CHILD. FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE ADOPTED OR TAKEN LEGAL CUSTODY.DURING THE 2024 CALENDAR YEAR SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 776 IDENTIFIED CLIENTS.ADOPTION AND PERMANENCY DISTRIBUTES APPROXIMATELY 200 NEWSLETTERS MONTHLY, VIA A MASS EMAILING LIST. THIS NEWSLETTER INCLUDES ARTICLES OF INTEREST ON ADOPTION, TIPS FOR THE ADOPTIVE PARENT, UPCOMING TRAINING, AND LOTS OF RELEVANT TIPS FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS.