Family Involvement:

It's no secret that one of the key predictors of the child's successful completion of our program is parental participation. It is exremely important for the child to feel as though his family is commited to the healing process. Working to resolve family issues is a key reason for many placements;and in order to work toward the common goal of reunification, all family members must be willing to consider the changes they may need to make. Every child needs to feel as though someone loves him and wants him to come back home.

Our staff continually model behaviors that are acceptable within a family living situation. At the same time, our staff will be asking for significant commitment from family members, particularly parents, to work in concert with our staff as they model appropriate parenting behaviors with their child. Simple, structured, and consistent.Three key words we use when trying to encourage a change for the better. The family is our most valued member of the treatment team; and we cannot move forward without them.  A commitment of their time and their spirit is essential.

We expect family participation in the following manner: by making telephone calls to their child and to the child's lead staff, by visiting the child, by attending our bi-monthly parent/child groups, by attending the family therapy sessions as deemed necessary by our therapist and social worker, and by attending our interdisciplinary planning sessions. We also believe it is important that the parent remain actively involved in their child�s academic progress by attending meetings regarding the development of his individualized education plan (IEP) and his transition into an off campus community-based school. Toward the end of his placement here, attendance in discharge planning meetings is crucial.

Through parent participation we are able to work on the areas that have caused problems within their family structure. In order to work toward a smooth transition back into the home, we must first understand the stumbling blocks that were encountered at home that caused an out of home placement. Without this participation, we cannot fully understand the issues that have affected this family.

We recognize the difficult time parents and extended family members have in making the decision to place their child in a residential facility, so we work with families to resolve issues related to being separated from their child. We do not take custodial decisions away from the parent.  Instead, we aim to assist the parent in making the most prudent decisions in determining a course of treatment for their child.

The Stenghtening Families Program will be offered held twice each month. Separate groups for parents of children five through eleven and parents of children twelve through sixteen are being developed. All family members are encouraged to participate in this curriculum that is spread out through fourteen session . The family members of the children residing at Windwood Farm will benefit from working with each other while they share common concerns about parenting who display problematic behaviors. Our parents, who are ultimately responsible for managing the behaviors of a child with behavioral and emotional issues, often offer many solutions to the stumbling blocks experienced by other families in our groups.

Master level licensed individuals provide individual counseling sessions, as needed, to all our clients and with the family members they will be living with in the future. We also assist prospective foster parents or adoptive families with their adjustment to welcoming a new member into their household. As children begin to transition back into their community, new goals that are geared toward family reunification and to resolving those issues that have previously caused difficulties with maintaining a safe and harmonious atmosphere in the home are developed.