Therapeutic Foster Parents: Hoyleton Youth and Family Services

Therapeutic Foster Parents Needed!

Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, based in Fairview Heights, Ill., has expanded its residential foster care program to include therapeutic foster homes. This expansion provides an opportunity for identified foster youth, currently in our residential program, to live in community with qualified foster parents in a single-family home in the Belleville, Ill., area. At this time, Hoyleton is actively seeking foster parents for this program.

The therapeutic foster care program was created to address service gaps that exist in Illinois. The state has limited residential treatment options for children in care and even fewer transition or step-down programs for youth who still need additional support. As a result of the limited resources, youth are staying in residential treatment programs longer than what is needed. To address this gap, Hoyleton has established multiple single-family homes as part of their therapeutic foster care program. If living in this type of environment with youth in care sounds like something you are interested in, Hoyleton would love to connect with you to share more information.

This is not another residential program. The youth who qualify to live in this environment will reside with a set of qualified foster parents, as they would in traditional foster care, but will have the added support of a treatment team comprised of a program supervisor, case manager, therapist and other supports as needed. This is a family bonding opportunity for both foster parents and youth. The selected foster parents will live rent free in a renovated home in the Belleville, Ill., area while providing full-time care for foster youth. Foster parents will receive compensation to cover living expenses including rent, utilities, groceries and transportation. Respite time will also be provided.

Hoyleton is actively searching for foster parents interested in this arrangement. A minimum of 2 years experience fostering youth is preferred. Foster parents must not have other children in their care at the time of this living arrangement. If you feel this could be your calling or know someone who might be interested, we would like to meet with you to discuss the opportunity. For more information or to set up an appointment please contact Sharon Schultz, Hoyleton Director of Child Welfare, at (618) 688-4761 or sschultz@hoyleton.org. To learn more about our organization please visit https://hoyleton.org/.