Catalog

The Circle of Security Parenting is a manualized, video-based program divided into 8 chapters during which trained facilitators reflect with caregivers of children with attachment difficulties due to developmental issues, reactive attachment disorder, maltreatment, disrupted relationships and complex trauma about how to promote secure attachment. This program is designed to be delivered in groups, but can be adapted for individual caregivers and couples. Facilitators stop at designated moments throughout the videos and ask reflective questions from the manual to participants. Through the use of videos, caregiver handouts/workbook, and facilitator presence and knowledge, caregivers can explore their strengths and struggles in […]

Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT): Empowering Families Who Are at Risk for Physical Abuse is a structured treatment program for families with children ages 3-17 and in which caregivers engage in or at risk of engaging in a continuum of coercive parenting strategies. The target population includes families in which child physical abuse by caregivers has been substantiated, families that have had multiple referrals to a child protection services agency, and caregivers who have reported significant stress and fear that they may lose control and hurt their child. The program aims to reduce children’s posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, […]

The Delaware Rec-n-Respite program provides respite for caregivers and an opportunity for adopted youth (ages 6 – 14) to connect with other adopted youth and build relationships. The program is available twice a month from September to June. During the program, youth enjoy a variety of structured activities that include learning life and social skills. Families are asked to start the program in September and commit to having their child attend each session through June.

DDP is a model of treatment and parenting for children with problems secondary to abuse, neglect, and multiple placements. When a child’s early attachment history consists of abuse, neglect, and/or multiple placements, they have failed to experience the dyadic (reciprocal) interaction between a child and caregiver that is necessary for normal development and they often has a reduced readiness and ability to participate in such experiences. Many children, when placed in a foster or adoptive home that provides appropriate parenting, are able to learn, day-by-day, how to engage in and benefit from the dyadic experiences provided by the new caregiver. […]

Emergency mobile psychiatric services (EMPS) deliver crisis response and stabilization services to children ages 0 – 18 and their families and caregivers including children residing in relative, adoptive and foster homes. Services include psychiatric assessment, medication consultation, behavioral management services, substance abuse screening, and referral to traditional and non-traditional services. EMPS has a centralized, toll-free phone number to serve as a point of entry and to provide person-to-person assistance. The number is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Trained mental health clinicians are available to be dispatched for a face-to-face evaluation within 45 […]

Enhancing Adoptive Parenting is adapted to meet the specific needs of adopters of children (ages 4 to 9) from the foster care system and who have serious psycho-social difficulties. The aim is to enhance adoptive parenting by advice and discussion rather than via a training program. The program helps adopters acquire behavior management skills and improve the understanding of the meaning of child’s current behavior and how the past and present are connected. The program emphasizes the need for adopters to conduct daily play sessions with their child and helps them adapt when their child rejects their praise and/or their […]

The evidenced-based Exchange Parent Aide Model is a family home-visitation model. Parent Aides are trained, professionally supervised individuals (paid and volunteer) who provide supportive and educational, in-home services to families with at least one child age birth through 12 years that is at-risk of child abuse and neglect. Exchange Parent Aides act as mentors and provide intensive support, information, and modeling of effective parenting — all in the home of the family. Services are strength-based and family centered. Services begin with an Initial Needs Assessment (INA) describing family dynamics, patterns of coping, abuse histories, and immediate needs. From the INA, […]

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an 8-phased psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate symptoms of trauma. The theory is based on the belief trauma is stored and “stuck” in the brains neural network. Any memory of traumatic event causes the child to connect to the negative feelings and cognition associated with it. The goal is to add adaptive behaviors to the neural network. This is accomplished through bilateral stimulation, a process that creates new neural pathways and the ability to access the stored trauma. This allows for the reprocessing of the trauma and reduction of associated anxiety, thereby […]

Families Forever is a post-adoption program that supports families formed through guardianship or adoption by connecting them to the resources they need. Families Forever offers a variety of education resources and one-on-one support opportunities, so parents can learn new strategies and connect with peers in similar situations. Some of the services offered include one-on-one parenting support, community referrals, connected to mental health services, connection to respite opportunities, mentoring programs, support groups, and training/classes. The Families Forever program comes at no cost to families and participation is voluntary.

Family Assessment Response, also known as “FAR”, provides a comprehensive assessment of child safety, risk of subsequent child abuse or neglect, family strengths and need. FAR does not require an investigation or determination of whether maltreatment occurred. FAR is only used when caseworkers see there is no immediate danger to children and when there are no allegations of serious child abuse. Participation in FAR is voluntary. With FAR, caseworkers work in partnership with families to address problems that could affect child safety. It is solution- focused and designed to connect families with services to prevent future involvement with the child […]