In response to today's needs, service providers must be even more creative and resourceful in identifying safe, healthy and permanent placements for children. To begin accomplishing this we must do the following:
- S.T.O.P. doing what repeatedly has not worked.
- S.T.O.P. unnecessary placement of children in restrictive settings far from their families/community resources.
- S.T.O.P. unnecessary out-of-home placement and foster care drift.
- S.T.O.P. spending monies on placements not tailored to move children to permanent, less restrictive/less expensive settings. We must accomplish more with less money.
The project philosophy and development of S.T.O.P. was a joint effort with DCFS Region II, Children’s Administration and SA, Inc. Its focus is outcome-based with heavy emphasis on relative search, resource development and family reunification. The S.T.O.P. program accomplishes its goals while working in collaboration with service providers located throughout much of the United States. It provides a variety of services tailored to meet the following outcomes:
- Establishment of a sense of family and community.
- Transition of children to other states when a family option is identified.
- Transition of children back to their home community who have been estranged or placed long distances from their families.
- Reducing the costs to the taxpaying public.