Alaska Children’s Services (ACS) recruits Therapeutic Foster Homes for students leaving residential treatment. Children are range in age from 7 to 18 years old and are in need of a supportive family environment to continue their healthy emotional growth and development. Students served by therapeutic foster care have needs that cannot be met in their own home.

Foster care provides a 3-12 month living situation for a child until he or she can be permanently placed. Foster parents are trained, supervised, and supported by ACS Community Programs staff. Parents follow a comprehensive program designed to provide the best treatment for the child.

• Foster parents may work outside the home if their schedule will accommodate the needs of the child, yet there is a preference to have one foster parent in the home full- time.

• Foster parents will receive a tax-free stipend for providing the child’s care.

• Foster parents may be single or a couple, residing in a home suitable to the child’s needs.

• Foster parents must meet state requirements for foster care.

• Their duties will include: participation as a member of the treatment team, implementation of the treatment plan, record keeping, participation in training, providing community connection, and contact with child’s family, and teachers.

• Foster parents must allow the child to feel that they are a part of a family. The foster parent provides a healthy environment for learning and growth, discipline, material needs, help with school work, care when sick, transportation, life skills, and values.

• Due to the significant needs of the children, foster homes are often limited to serving only one child at a time.

If you are interested in foster parenting or if you would like more information about Therapeutic Foster Homes, please call:

Deborah Lefebvre
Licensing Coordinator
(907) 562-5340 extension 12

Ann O'Reilly
Licensing Coordinator
(907) 562-5340 extension 18

Forms:
Behavioral Services .doc or .pdf
Daily Schedule .doc or .pdf
Prescription Medication form .doc or .pdf
Treatment Pass Medication .doc or .pdf
Voucher Request .doc or .pdf

Support Services Provided for Foster Parents
by the Community Programs Staff

Case management and home-based services for the foster parents is provided by the ACS Case manager and may include individual parent training, behavior management, discipline plans, point charts, and family rules.

Therapeutic and emergency on-call services will be provided by the ACS Case manager and the Director of Community Programs. Community therapists are utilized as recommended by the Aftercare Plan which is developed before the child leaves the residential program.

Recreational services will emphasize community connections and positive use of leisure time. The child will be encouraged to be involved in sports, civic and cultural events. Each child’s individual needs will be taken into account when developing their recreational program.

Respite care provides support to the Foster parents by allowing them private time away from the responsibilities of foster care. Respite will include services provided by ACS or by other individuals in the community arranged by the Foster parents.

A volunteer program will emphasize community connection, empathy and responsibility, by finding places the child can use their time to help others. This program is supervised by the ACS Case Manager and implemented by Treatment Counselors.