Family & Children Services

Foster care offers safety and stability to Children who have experienced abuse or neglect by providing Family care when out-of-home placement becomes necessary. Foster families are licensed by the agency and trained to nurture and promote the development of Children. Parent coaching is provided to support parents and strengthen families. In 2023, 50,800 days of foster care were provided to 358 Children and parents. 84 Children were transitioned from foster care into permanent families through adoption as part of a permanency plan when they could not be returned to their families.

Family and community treatment (fact) is a comprehensive home-based treatment service partnering with families to strengthen their abilities. This program serves families with a child who has a diagnosable mental illness and is experiencing difficulties in multiple areas of life. Services may include individual, couples, group, Family and play therapy, parenting support, case management, 24-hour on-call availability, advocacy and referrals to community supports. Staff work with the entire Family providing individualized Services for both the youth and Family members based on a needs-driven, strength-based approach. In 2023, 90 individuals, Children and Family members, were impacted.

Therapeutic residential Services for youth provides intensive stabilization Services in a structured, safe environment for youth in out-of-home placement who are experiencing behavioral health instability and need out-of-home treatment. Admission criteria may be youth who present with significant behavioral challenges, youth stepping down from inpatient hospitalization or a residential facility, or youth experiencing repeated placement instability. On-site treatment includes assessment, education, individual and group counseling, case management and other structured activities with an emphasis on trauma recovery. In 2023, intensive therapeutic residential Services were provided to 15 youth.

For 121 years, Family & Children Services has responded to the needs of the communities it serves, accomplishing its mission to "support, strengthen and preserve the safety, well-being and dignity of Children, individuals and families" through a comprehensive program of child welfare, behavioral health and crisis intervention Services. A continuum of programs is offered, impacting 4,562 individuals in 2023. Agency clients were served from multiple counties in the region, primarily kalamazoo and calhoun counties. Services are provided in client homes, therapeutic residential homes, and agency service sites in kalamazoo and battle creek.service quality is assured through state and local regulatory bodies, the council on accreditation (coa), and internal training and quality management systems directed at best practices in the delivery of human Services. The agency has been accredited since june of 1987 and is licensed for the care of Children by the state of michigan.in addition to foster care and adoption, therapeutic residential youth Services, and Family and community treatment, other Services provided to the community include:child welfare: Family preservation programs such as families first serve families whose Children are at risk of out-of-home placement due to abuse or neglect and Children in foster care being reunited with their families. Families together building solutions (ftbs) is an in-home program that serves families who are experiencing issues related to child and Family well-being and are in need of supportive assistance. Services include providing support with budgeting, household management, parenting skills, connection with community resources, communication and conflict resolution skills and building positive relationships.when a child must be removed from their Family, the overarching goal is to return the child to the home. Foster care supportive visitation/in-home parent education provides intensive individualized parent-child visits centered on the child and parent education and coaching. The program utilizes evidence-based approaches to replace old patterns of behavior with new, healthier ones. The agency also offers supervised parenting time and parenting support Services to improve parenting skills and increase communication between parents and their Children in a safe and controlled environment. Behavioral health: the counseling center at Family & Children Services works with individuals experiencing emotional health challenges. Outpatient and telehealth counseling is available for individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Therapists provide a variety of professional counseling Services including individual, couple and Family therapy to enable clients to understand the social, psychological, and interpersonal issues that may be interfering with their relationships, job, school, and social functioning. In 2023, 415 individuals were served through the counseling center. Community based mental health Services for youth and their parents address behavioral health issues that left untreated, could overwhelm a child or Family. Family and community treatment provides comprehensive, home-based treatment Services partnering with families. Services are provided to families with youth experiencing a serious emotional disturbance and having difficulties in multiple areas of life. Services include individual, group, Family and play therapy, parenting education and support, 24-hour on-call availability, advocacy and referrals to community resources. Case management coordinates necessary Services for adults with a developmental disability or families whose Children have a developmental disability or serious emotional disturbance. These Services include a comprehensive mental health assessment and development of a person-centered plan, linkage and referral to community resources, and ongoing coordination to ensure quality of Services and supports. In 2023, 240 individuals were impacted. Crisis intervention:mobile crisis response is a 24-hour response team for youth in kalamazoo county facing a mental health and/or substance use crisis. As a comprehensive community-based program, mobile crisis provides immediate crisis intervention, clinical assessements, assists families in developing practical safety/crisis plans, and provides follow up Services until the youth and Family are connected with ongoing Services. This service operates 24-hours per day, seven days per week in schools, homes, hospitals and in the community. In 2023, 329 individuals were served.