Foster Home Puts Child on Smoother Road
The Challenge
Struggling with severe depression, failing grades, battles with mom, and flirting with a dangerous lifestyle, 12-year-old Dawn was on a downward spiral that was certain to lead to tragedy. With few mental health resources available in Central Oregon, finding the appropriate and supportive interventions for her and her mom was a challenge.
The Solution
Fortunately, Dawn became a resident at Trillium Family Services and, within a short period of time, she stabilized. Along with her family, Dawn began doing the hard treatment work needed to get back on track. A major catalyst for her improvement was Dawn's opportunity to live in an individualized and community-based therapeutic foster home. Her foster mom’s home allowed Dawn to continue to learn and practice important life and communication skills in a loving and supportive family home, right in her own community in Redmond. Additionally, foster mom Sue worked closely with Dawn's mom, Sheila, by offering her parenting tips, a strong model of how to provide structure, and appropriate support during the tough times.
The Outcome
Thanks to weekly in-home skills consultations, the support of a skilled therapist, and, most improtantly, the guidance and structure of a trained foster home, Dawn has returned to living at home with her mom. Dawn is doing well in school, taking ballet lessons, and has good friends. Both mom and daughter are far better equipped to successfully deal with life’s challenges. They still call on Sue once in a while for advice or to come to dinner.
The Organization
Trillium Family Services provides mental health care services to children and ongoing support to families in Central Oregon, including psychiatric residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, and in-home consultation, among other services. Therapeutic foster care provides a caring, structured family setting for children where they learn and practice new skills to build success at home, school and other everyday environments. Trillium Family Services is one of Oregon’s most comprehensive providers of mental health care for children and families. Trillium offers programs and services in three regions — Portland Metro, Mid-Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon. Last year, Trillium served 7,000 children and families from 30 Oregon counties.
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