Since the mid-1980s, People Places has been involved in scores of technical assistance projects ranging from the individual agency to the state-level. Those listed below included the full range of consultation and training services described in our Technical Assistance Model for treatment foster care (TFC) program start-up.
The word is getting out about People Places' Parenting Skills Training (PST). In February of 2009, Larimer County DSS in Colorado was the first program to adopt the PST. The decision was part of an effort on the County's part intended to reduce residential numbers through the use of family and community-based services. After a year, the number of Larimer County children in residential care has dropped from 30 to 8. Kudos to Carla Felts and the staff and caregivers of this innovative program.
In New York, the Office of Children and Family Services has approved the curriculum as a preservice for therapeutic foster care programs statewide. Resource families will no longer be required to complete both the MAPP and the PST in order to qualify as therapeutic caregivers there. Through our training contract with the Center for Development of Human Services at Buffalo State College, People Places is providing training to new PST trainers around the state. Michael Johnan, co-author of the PST is leading the effort.
Four TFC programs in Ontario have joined forces to provide the new PST to prospective therapeutic caregivers. Last Fall, People Places' Doris Moore delivered a 3-day overview training of trainers to participants from Kinark Children's Aide, Bridgeway Family Homes, Blue Hills Child & Family Centre and Carpe Diem.
In Philadelphia, despite the budget woes affecting all of us, the Department of Human Services is providing the PST curriculum to each of the City's 15 therapeutic foster care programs. With the support and assistance of the Pennsylvania Council for Children, Youth and Families, PST author, Brad Bryant conducted a 3-day overview of the material for prospective trainers.
In Illinois, Catholic Charities has completed an intensive training program to prepare each of their several sites to use the new PST. Michael Johnan delivered 5 days of overview and 'teach-back' training in the use of the curriculum.
In the Midwest, the Kansas Children's Service League will add key elements of the PST to the state-mandated MAPP training required for all prospective resource parents. KCSL, with offices in Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City, will become one of the few providers of high-level treatment foster care in the state. Brad Bryant worked with KCSL on the design of the program and on ways to integrate the PST into their mandated preservice program. A bit east, Boys' Town of Missouri has begun testing the PST package at their Kansas City site for use in their therapeutic foster care programs statewide.
In Virginia, Braley and Thompson - a subsidiary of ResCare - has adopted the PST for each of their offices statewide and participated in training provided by Doris Moore to prepare staff and trainers. Intercept House, a multi-service multi-site youth serving organization also has adopted the PST for their new TFC program, centered in Richmond. The Commonwealth recently designated the PST as a IVE-approved preservice curriculum for prospective resource parents in therapeutic foster care. This decision will significantly reduce the cost of both the curriculum itself and of on-site training of trainers.
New York State Department of Social Services/OCFS (1992-Present)
Assisted the development of a network of 40 therapeutic foster care programs statewide, providing direct technical assistance and consultation to each site initially and on an ongoing basis. Provided consultation to state, regional and local public planners, to private provider program developers and on-site training to TFC staff and therapeutic foster parents throughout the state.
Dallas County DMHMR (1991-94)
Assisted design and start-up of a public sector TFC program serving children and youth with serious emotional disturbance. Provided direct training to initial administrative and line staff and to therapeutic foster parent applicants. Provided follow up consultation over a three–year period.
New York State Mental Hygiene Research Foundation (1991-92)
Assisted design and review of major NIMH-funded study comparing outcomes for matched sample of SED youth served either through intensive home-based services or treatment foster care.
New York State Office of Mental Health (1988-91)
Assisted design and start-up of a model statewide TFC program serving severely emotionally disturbed children and youth as an alternative to /step-down from State Psychiatric Centers. Provided direct training to the first 7 sites and developed a site-based database for program administration and evaluation.
Cumberland County, NC Community Mental Health Center (1985-87)
Assisted development of a model TFC program in Fayetteville, NC, later adapted by the Fort Bragg System of Care Project.
Nebraska Department of Social Services (1986)
Assisted State planners’ design of 3 pilot TFC sites and provided direct training to staff and therapeutic parents in Omaha, Lincoln and North Platte.
Missouri Division of Family Services (1985-87)
Assisted development of the State's Behavioral Foster Care program for children with emotional and behavior disorders. Provided direct training to local administrators, staff and therapeutic foster parents at seven sites as well as organization design consultation to state-level planners.
