Meeting the Special Needs of Neurodivergent and Disabled Children
Many foster children have special needs that extend beyond common emotional or behavioral issues. Foster children who have suffered severe trauma, have extreme behavioral or medical issues, such as ADHD, sexually aggressive behavior, learning disabilities, Autism, cerebral palsy, and HIV require highly specialized care. More importantly, foster families coping with these children need intensive support.
The Children’s Home & Aid Specialized Foster Care program provides services and support for neurodivergent and disabled children and the foster families caring for them. The program works toward permanency by providing intensive case management, comprehensive mental health services along with medical, dental, optometric, developmental, and educational services specific to the child’s needs. Training programs are designed to give foster parents the requisite tools to address the needs of the child and cope with difficult issues. Supportive services such as family therapy, respite, and support groups are provided for the child, biological parents and the foster parents. And, an extra supplemental reimbursement is provided to assist with additional needs.
To learn more about the benefits of becoming a specialized foster care parent, download our specialized foster care brochure.
The need for individuals or families willing to welcome a child into their home is great, especially for older children. We are searching for caring and open-minded individuals ‒ including all diversity of age, race, creed, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or educational level ‒ to support families in need.
“All we’re looking for is that chance to love somebody. To be loved. To be happy. And to have someone to call family.”