The Intensive Treatment Foster Care Program at Tanager Place began in January 2007 and was made possible due to a pilot project grant form the Department of Human Services. The program goal is to help enhance the foster care delivery system in the state of Iowa and act as a transition for children who are in the custody of the Department of Human Services and are ready for a community placement.
Tanager Place Intensive Treatment Foster Care Program provides a unique difference by providing a number of supports to foster families including: additional respite, additional stipends, and appropriate trainings. A team of professional care providers work closely with the foster family, the birth family as well as the child. This team approach allows for foster families to reach out to the birth families as mentors and role models for healthy parenting.
The goal of the Intensive Treatment
Foster Care program is to provide services and support which creates a safe
and nurturing environment for children. This program helps to preserve the
family when possible and promotes the child's social, emotional, physical
and educational development.
This transitional program enhances the child's experience from intensive
treatment to a home environment. "Foster families serve as the 'bridge'
between treatment and the 'future' for these children. "Once the children
achieve their treatment goals the discharge procedures occur," shared Tresa
Stearns, Program Coordinator at Tanager Place. "The implementation of the
Intensive Treatment Foster Care program builds upon the strengths of each
child and their family, and allows both to be a part of the treatment
decision-making process."
