Service Alternatives, Inc. (SA, Inc.) is committed to using a Family Centered Practice model in working with families and foster families. In using this approach, Service Alternatives supports and strengthens families and communities through community involvement, education, awareness, growth and support. A Family Centered Practice model incorporates the following philosophies:
- Families are the primary influence in the lives of children. Children gain their identities from the family, as the family is the one constant in a child's life, while staff and services will change.
- Family Centered Practice appreciates families as families, and children as children, recognizing that they possess a wide range of strengths, concerns, emotions, and aspirations. Family Centered Practice is strength-based. This empowers parents to focus on what they do well, and discover the hidden strengths and talents within the children they serve.
- Family Centered Foster Care creates partnerships with families. Traditional partnership models place foster parents in a passive role of being informed or educated. Family Centered Practice places foster parents in a creative role of establishing goals and making decisions. In family centered foster care, families know that feedback will facilitate change.
- Family Centered Foster Care supports and trains foster parents in an effort to maintain consistent, quality care for children. Special topic trainings assist foster parents in becoming confident that they have the skills to serve high needs children.
- Professionals, such as therapists, trainers, and program staff, bring information to parents about child development and about their experiences with many children. However, Family Centered Foster Care recognizes that families provide much needed information about the individual child, across time in a variety of settings. Family Centered Foster Care encourages family-to family support and networking in order to communicate this information successfully.
- Family Centered Foster Care honors cultural diversity, and individuality within all families, including ethnic, racial, spiritual, social-economic, and educational backgrounds.
SA Foster Care Manual (Word doc 187KB)