Family Care Network Annual Report

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ivan Ivan’s family just couldn’t get things right. His parents, aunts and uncles all struggled with something, and all of their struggles made it unsafe for him to live with them. At 17, Ivan had already lived in a lot of different homes with different family. So when he entered FCNI’s Shelter Care program again after a failed attempt living with his Aunt, Ivan was frustrated and exhausted. It was clear that Ivan didn’t want to be in care. At his first team meeting, Ivan was visibly angry. He no longer trusted adults and his behaviors, triggered by years of trauma, had become giant barriers to his ability to connect with others. The team worked to make sure that Ivan and his foster parents had a good safety plan in place while they supported Ivan in overcoming his circumstances. Ivan was always encouraged to share his thoughts, questions and needs, and he was good at speaking up. The challenge for Ivan was his delivery. Ivan was matched with an FCNI counselor who helped him learn how he could express himself without creating walls between himself and others. And he also started meeting with a mental health therapist. Through the course of therapy and with help from his FCNI counselor, Ivan informed his team that he no longer wanted to try to be part of a family—he was ready to live independently. Ivan’s team fully supported his request, and together with his Social Worker, they developed a plan which included Ivan remaining with his current Shelter family longer while he prepared to enter into FCNI’s Transitional Age Youth housing program. When he was ready, Ivan would move into his own apartment with a Residential Advisor and begin learning essential life skills. While unorthodox, the plan worked for Ivan. He thrived under the idea that he no longer had to “fit into a family,” but could work towards his own independence. While Ivan’s road didn’t get any easier, he did take more control over it. Getting to remain in the safety net of his shelter home was critical to Ivan’s success. And the family eventually developed a close relationship, one that they knew they’d keep for life. With renewed hope, Ivan moved into his first apartment, where he’ll have his own room and his own space to become the person he wants to be. Foster Care Since our inception in 1987, we have served 2,823 foster children/ youth in Foster Care with 94% of placement days purchased having had successful outcomes, based on: • Stable foster placement • Reunification with family • Successful transition to independent living • Permanent family placement • Successful transitional placement 2017-2018 Outcomes Children/Youth Served 18 Total Placement Days 8,894 Successful Placement Days 100% emergency Shelter Care We have provided San Luis Obispo County Emergency Shelter Care— immediate foster care available 24 hours per day, seven days per week for abused, neglected or disrupted youth—since August, 2000. Since the program’s inception, 3,350 foster children/youth have been served and 89% of placement days purchased had successful outcomes based on the following: • Stable foster placement • Reunification with family • Successful transition to independent living • Permanent family placement • Successful transitional placement 2017-2018 Outcomes Children/Youth Served 128 Total Placement Days 1,765 Successful Placement Days 58% 12
Foster-Adoption We became a State Licensed Adoption agency in 2014. Since this time, the agency has developed a strong adoption program focused on placing children with highly-trained families, adding an additional layer to our ongoing efforts to move our foster children and youth towards permanent family-based homes within their local community. 2017-2018 Outcomes Children/Youth Served 1 Successful Placement Days 100% Cora When Denise and Lee became adoptive foster parents, they were full of anticipation. While unsure of what to expect, they were excited to care for someone who truly needed them. That someone would turn out to be Cora—a nine year old girl who was placed in Emergency Shelter Care when her grandparents could no longer care for her. Without parents or other family, Cora was asked how she felt about being adopted. Cora answered that she had little hope. But little did she know who was waiting for her. At an FCNI event, Cora’s Shelter parents met Denise and Lee, and were taken by their compassion. After speaking with Cora’s social worker, the team decided to introduce the three. Their first meeting went so well, the team arranged for more meetings, and then overnight stays. A happy surprise came for everyone when Denise and Lee asked if they could foster-adopt Cora. With the adoption process started, Denise and Lee welcomed an excited Cora into their home. At first, Cora was her usual happy self, but soon she started acting out. At dinnertime and bedtime, she started tantruming, and she could no longer sleep through the night. Cora’s team recognized that in the comfort of her new home, Cora’s defenses lowered and she started displaying the effects of her past trauma. To meet the family’s and Cora’s immediate needs, FCNI provided the family additional support. The plan was to help Denise and Lee learn how to best support Cora while she learned how to cope more effectively as she healed. Cora started meeting with a therapist weekly, and an FCNI counselor a couple days a week. Cora and her counselor worked in Cora’s home, helping the whole family strengthen their communication and coping skills. Denise and Lee also started attending a weekly FCNI Foster Parent support group so they could learn from others in similar circumstances. And together, the three of them participated in family therapy sessions. Over the next several months, the new family grew stronger, bonding over their shared experiences, new skills, and their mutual love and trust. While Denise and Lee were happy to become adoptive foster parents, they never expected to encounter the growth, challenges and immeasurable love that they have. While nothing is ever perfect, they did find their “perfectfor-them” family when they adopted Cora. And because of Cora, they now have the skills, experience and hope to add more foster children into their lives—happy to face the new challenges of growing their family together. 13
Page 1 and 2: come togetHer 2017-2018 Annual Repo
Page 3 and 4: 2 | about family care network, inc.
Page 5 and 6: Solving Problems is an organization
Page 7 and 8: 2017-2018 year in review board of d
Page 9 and 10: ehavioral health services In-Home B
Page 11 and 12: statement of activities actual reve
Page 13: Wraparound Our Wraparound program b
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Page 19 and 20: therapeutic behavioral services (TB
Page 21 and 22: housing and support services Progra
Page 23 and 24: transitional housing placement prog
Page 25 and 26: education support services Support
Page 27 and 28: ory Rory really wanted to make it o
Page 29 and 30: community resources development As
Page 31 and 32: mentors We began recruiting mentors

Family Care Network Annual Report

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