DEPAUL COMMUNITY RESOURCES

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES MISSION: WE WORK TO ENSURE SAFETY, PROMOTE PERMANENCY, FACILITATE HEALING, AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. WE DO THIS THROUGH FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, KINSHIP CARE, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. COMPONENTS OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION INCLUDES:FOSTER CARETHE CHILDREN IN OUR FOSTER CARE PROGRAM ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO BELONG, HOPE FOR TOMORROW, AND HEALING AFTER EXPERIENCING NEGLECT OR ABUSE BY A BIRTH PARENT. EACH YOUNG PERSONAL IS ASSIGNED A DEPAUL CASEWORKER WHO HELPS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO BOTH THE CHILD AND HIS OR HER FOSTER PARENTS. WE STRIVE TOWARD ACHIEVING PERMANENCY FOR EVERY YOUNG PERSON - WHETHER IT IS THROUGH REUNIFICATION WITH BIRTH FAMILY OR THROUGH ADOPTION. OUR COMMITMENT TO SMALLER CASELOADS ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT TO OUR FOSTER FAMILIES. DEPAUL'S EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE SPECIALISTS ASSIST FOSTER FAMILIES EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, UTILIZING A COLLABORATIVE TEAM APPROACH THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE TO HEAL FROM TRAUMA. FOSTER PARENTS RECEIVE SPECIALIZED TRAINING ON ATTACHMENT THEORY PRINCIPLES AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE TO HELP PROMOTE HEALING FOR FOSTER YOUTH. WE ALSO OFFER ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING 24-HOUR CRISIS AVAILABILITY, SHORT-TERM CARE, AND A WIDE ARRAY OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ADOPTIONOUR ADOPTION PROGRAM HELPS TO PREPARE CHILDREN AND THEIR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO CREATE FOREVER FAMILIES. DEPAUL OFFERS ADOPTION SERVICES AT NO COST THANKS TO GRANT FUNDING, FUNDRAISING, AND GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM LOYAL DONORS THAT IS ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ON PLACING CHILDREN INTO ADOPTIVE HOMES AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. THIS SUPPORT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGH EACH STEP OF THE ADOPTION PROCESS; FROM PRE-ADOPTION WORK TO PREPARE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, TO RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO FIND APPROPRIATE FAMILIES FOR WAITING CHILDREN, TO POST-ADOPTION SUPPORT TO ENSURE FAMILIES FORMED BY ADOPTION CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.KINSHIP CAREOUR KINSHIP CARE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM PLACEMENT WITH A RELATIVE OR FICTIVE KIN (SUCH AS A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND). OUR KINSHIP SPECIALIST SUPPORTS FORMAL AND INFORMAL KINSHIP CAREGIVERS BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND CONNECTIONS TO RESOUCES TO MANAGE THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY. WE ALSO OFFER EMERGENCY AID TO SUPPORT THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF YOUTH ENTERING KINSHIP CARE THAT ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE STABILITY OF KINSHIP PLACEMENTS.INDEPENDENT LIVINGTHE GOAL OF OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OUR SERVICES ASSIST YOUTH IN DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS, MAKING PERMANENT CONNECTIONS TO CARING AND COMMITTED ADULTS, MEETING INDIVIDUAL GOALS, AND MAKING WELL-INFORMED CHOICES FOR THEIR FUTURE. THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, OUR STAFF PROVIDES GUIDANCE, COMPASSION, AND DIRECTION IN NAVIGATING THE DIFFICULT JOURNEY FROM ADOLESCENCE TO ADULTHOOD.COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELING SERVICESOUR COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELING SERVICES EXTEND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO ADULTS, FAMILIES, ADOLESCENTS, AND CHILDREN IN THE LEASE RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT: THEIR OWN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. WE OFFER TARGETED INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND HELP YOUTH HEAL FROM PAST TRAUMA, INCLUDING OUTPATIENT COUNSELING, INTENSIVE IN-HOME THERAPY, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES, REUNIFICATION SERVICES, PLAY THERAPY, ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND MORE.