Catawba County Department of Social Services Therapeutic Foster Care
Catawba County Department of Social Services provides foster care, an alternative home, for abused, neglected and dependent children. Foster care provides substitute parental care and supervision to most children in Social Services custody; however, some children are more problematic or have special needs that necessitate a higher level of care. In order to meet the special needs of these children and help them achieve permanency, therapeutic foster care has developed and offers a wide range of treatment services administered within a family setting. All services are designed to develop and increase self-esteem, while also encouraging an increased sense of personal responsibility. Therapeutic foster care is a behavioral model that utilizes teaching interactions which consistently reinforce appropriate behaviors while also providing consistent natural consequences for inappropriate behaviors. The structure and consistency provided within a therapeutic foster home affords youth an opportunity to gain a stronger sense of self-esteem, self-awareness and self-control. This service is designed to work most effectively with youth who experience severe behavioral or emotional difficulties. These difficulties may include running away, suicidal ideation, verbal or physical aggression, sexual offending, drug involvement, etc. Placements will occur within highly trained, specialized families with service provision and length of stay individualized based on each youth’s need and plan of care. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide the highest degree of stability possible and to realize permanence within one year, whenever feasible, for each youth served.

Catawba County Department of Social Service Therapeutic Foster Care serves children ages birth-18 years with behavioral and /or emotional problems that exceed Foster Care Level 1 and require special care and expertise from Family–Based Therapeutic Foster Care Treatment Level 2 Therapeutic Foster Care serves only children who are in the legal custody of the Catawba County Department of Social Services (by court order or VPA) and who have been abused, neglected and/or dependent. Placement with biological family must be unavailable or inappropriate at the time of referral. The placement of children is contingent upon the availability of licensed Therapeutic Foster Homes and that an appropriate match between child and parents can be accomplished. An appropriate match means that the child’s special needs are compatible with the skill level of the therapeutic foster parents.

Catawba County Department of Social Services Residential Services
In the late 1970s, two residential group homes were built—and opened in 1979—to serve older foster children who needed more structured group care. These pro-grams are currently Andrea’s Place and Blevins, separately serving boys and girls ages 12-17.

Corner House I for girls was established in the early 1980s on the recommendation of the Community Based Alternatives Committee to serve children otherwise on their way to training school (Youth Development Center). In 1985, Corner House II for boys was established. These homes provide Level II Residential Treatment for delinquent youth ages 12-17.

Teaching-Family Model
In the late 1960's, the National Institute of Mental Health provided major grants to fund research conducted by several pioneers of behavioral psychology with the Achievement Place Research Project at the University of Kansas. This re-search defined and refined a residential treatment model known today as the Teaching-Family Model (TFM). That Model was, and continues to be, consistently effective in changing the behavior of troubled youths. Since 1967, an inter-national association, the Teaching-Family Association, has grown out of the demand to replicate this effective, humane model of treatment. Today, the Model serves families; physically, emotionally, and sexually abused children; delinquent youth, emotionally disturbed and autistic children and adults; medically fragile children; and, adults with disabilities. All of our group homes implement the nationally accredited Teaching-Family Model. Appalachian Family Innovations, AFI, located in Morganton, is our sponsor site.

ANDREA’S PLACE AND BLEVINS

• Key Benefits:
• Social skill development
• Youth attends community school
• Strong partnerships with school
• Mental health providers and other service providers
• Individualized treatment plans
• Strong partnerships with Social Worker to work toward permanent placement
• Involve families/caregivers in treatment process
• Provide independent living skills
• Summer program
• Aftercare

Corner House I and II

• Key Benefits:
• Youth attends home school
• Youth remains in parent' custody
• Weekly home visits, parent conferences and parent education
• Strong partnerships with juvenile court, mental health providers, schools and other treatment services
• Coordinate assessments and services for families
• Provide independent living skills
• Summer program
• Monthly treatment team meetings