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DCS launches intensive foster care services program to assist families, promote stability, permanency for youth with higher needs

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) has selected 13 providers to offer intensive foster care and respite care services. This will better ensure that youth in DCS care with higher levels of medical, behavioral, or mental health needs have safe and stable placements. 

DCS’ goal is to equip foster parents and other caregivers, including relatives and kinship caregivers, with the skills and support necessary to care for youth with higher levels of need in home settings. 

“Children fare best when they have the love and support of a stable family, but not every family is prepared to meet the needs of a child who has experienced trauma or has specialized needs,” said DCS Director Eric Miller, MPA, MBA. “By bringing in specially trained providers to offer services and training to Indiana foster parents and kinship caregivers, we are increasing the resources available to these families so that more youth can stay in supportive home environments that meet their unique needs.”  

Children who are referred for intensive foster care services often are leaving long-term residential placements, have a history of foster care disruptions, may have significant intellectual and developmental disabilities or medical challenges, be leaving a placement in an acute psychiatric facility, or have experienced trauma or have behavioral issues that can make finding a long-term placement more difficult. Intensive foster care services are designed to improve stability and reduce further trauma by delivering the services these youth require in the home. This removes the need to seek additional services from other providers, decreases the likelihood of additional placement disruptions, and helps assist children in their transition to permanency.  

“Removing a child from a home the first time is already traumatic. When additional placements disrupt because the family doesn’t have the tools needed to support the child’s needs, that child experiences further trauma,” Miller noted. “By investing in support for families who are willing to open their homes to children with some of the toughest stories, we hope to change the narrative for those children and build new, more resilient families.” 

Services are expected to begin in November. At least two intensive foster care providers will be available in every DCS region. A list of selected providers and the areas they will serve is posted 
here

The intensive foster care program is part of the Children with High-Acuity Needs Project announced Monday by Governor Eric J. Holcomb. The multi-agency effort is designed to support children with high-acuity needs that lead to difficulties in securing the best support and services for them.