Jan. 26, 2004 – Persons and families willing to become foster parents of minors in need of therapeutic foster care are invited to take part in once-a-week training sessions on St. Croix, starting Feb. 1, and on St. Thomas starting March 7.
The V.I. Human Services Department's Children Youth and Families Division will offer 16-hour pre-service training sessions.
Minors who are victims of abuse and/or neglect most often experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other socio-psychological disorders due to violence or other negative stimulants in the home. Consequently, the foster placement process becomes complicated, and additional support is needed for families and persons who care for these children.
Therefore the Division is making an effort to design an environment where the foster parents have been trained in therapeutic care, and thus can provide a home setting that promotes positive social and emotional growth, stabilizing the minors in an extended-time placement to aid their recovery.
A model for "therapeutic foster care" has been implemented on St. Croix. Support services include weekly individual therapy for minors, bi-monthly support groups for foster parents, and wrap-around services for crisis support from the social worker, support group facilitators, and providers of individual therapy.
Funding for the model courses and training sessions is provided by the Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
The schedules:
St. Croix
February 1, 8, 22, 29
1 to 5 p.m.
Childworth Building, Estate Princesse across from Tropical Nissan
Contact: Elizabeth Mueller, district manager, 773-5303
St. Thomas
March 7, 14, 21, 28
12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Human Services Department conference room at Knud Hansen
Contact: Etta Rahming, district manager, 775-0930 Ext. 4243
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