Program areas at Nexus-PATH Family Healing
Nexus-PATH Family Healing (Nexus-PATH) operates a Foster Care Program that works tirelessly to make sure every child is cared for in a safe and secure home, whether they need short-term care while a family is in transition or a permanent place to call their own. Nexus-PATH offers three foster care services under this program to best align with the needs of the youth served: Intensive Treatment Foster Care, Treatment Foster Care, and Regular Foster Care.Continued on Schedule OIntensive Treatment Foster Care is for who struggle with higher levels of aggressive, sexually problematic, and/or autism spectrum behaviors. We provide dedicated care with trained, experienced foster parents. These foster parents have only one youth per home and are able to provide the individualized care the child needs to be successful. In each of our Intensive Treatment Foster Care homes, one parent is a stay-at-home parent and is available to participate in all appointments and meetings for the child. Youth in these homes are also assigned a Behavioral Skills Worker as an extension of their therapist. In 2022, Nexus-PATH served 2 youth in Intensive Treatment Foster Care. Treatment Foster Care is for children and youth that have a mental health diagnosis involving severe emotional and behavioral problems. We provide safe, specially equipped foster homes that have the skills and resources to meet their complex needs. Our Treatment Foster Care families are trained and certified in medication management, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care, and they're focused on helping foster youth build healthy relationships and develop valuable life skills. Nexus-PATH case workers support these families by providing treatment consultation and behavioral management support. In addition, we use a full team approach to help address the ongoing impact of any functional disabilities and/or past trauma. Our treatment foster families collaborate closely with a Nexus-PATH case worker, the child's custodian, and other service providers to ensure the best care for each individual child. In 2022, Nexus-PATH served 226 youth in Treatment Foster Care.Regular Foster Care helps ensure that youth who are in the child welfare system (from birth through age 21) have their physical, emotional, and social needs met daily in a family setting, until they're reunited with their own family, or another permanent option is arranged. Our Regular Foster Care families are paired with a Nexus-PATH social worker who knows the family well and understands how they can best help children in their home. These families provide a lower level of care than our Treatment Foster Care homes. Youth in Regular Foster Care do not need to have a mental health diagnosis to receive services through Nexus-PATH. In 2022, Nexus-PATH served 124 youth in Regular Foster Care.
Independent Living Services - Nexus-PATH's Independent Living Program prepares youth to leave foster care with the resources and skills they'll need to live successfully as adults. Nexus-PATH's Independent Living Coordinators work with youth who are preparing to exit North Dakota's foster care system to help them find employment, housing, and/or education, including earning or finding housing deposits, shopping for furniture and necessities, and other tasks required to set up for success. The Independent Living Coordinators help these youth learn how to manage their money, navigate or find transportation, and build healthy interdependent skills. For many youth, the coordinators are their only tie to a trustworthy, mature, stable adult. Continued on Schedule OThis relationship serves a much greater purpose than simply securing the necessities of independent living, it's a safety net for those who don't have one and a springboard toward success in adulthood. In 2022, independent living served 450 youth.
Luther Hall is a licensed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for Children and Adolescents operated by Nexus-PATH Family Healing. Luther Hall offers a therapeutic setting for up to 16 youth ages 10-17 who present risk to themselves and others due to significant issues impacting their everyday lives, resulting in the need for out-of-home placement for treatment. We provide individualized and comprehensive services by specially trained, dedicated staff in a carefully structured environment. Youth receive treatment for issues such as mental health challenges, substance use, or because of a history that demonstrates the child's need for a higher level of care.Continued on Schedule OAll residents participate in individual and group therapy, as well as family therapy, which can be done in person or via secure video conferencing avenues for families unable to be physically present. On-site educational instruction is provided by Fargo Public Schools and includes special education services. In 2022, Luther Hall served 35 youth.
School Case Management Program - To support children and their caregivers throughout our community who need mental health services, we provide a strengths-based service within local school districts. Nexus-PATH case managers work closely with each student in the program, alongside the student's family and their school team, to implement an individualized care plan that supports the child and the family's needs. Nexus-PATH case managers help these children and families access medical, social, educational, and other services necessary for appropriate care and treatment. In 2022, the school base program served 173 youth.Nexus-PATH's Mental Health Clinic support clients of all ages with individual, couple, relationship, and family therapy. We provide guidance, support, skill building, and healing around many common issues, including: Depression, Anxiety, Abuse, Traumatic experiences including grief and loss, parenting issues, and is committed to bringing positive change through evidence-based practices through TF-CBT. Counseling focuses on building strengths and gaining skills to be successful in all areas of life. Services may be provided in the office, in the comfort of the client's home or an alternative environment like a school or childcare setting. In 2022, the Mental Health Clinic served 405 clients. Family Support - The goal of our Family Support Program is to prevent youth from needing out-of-home placements by providing intensive case management, respite care, and parent-to-parent mentoring services to families. This program can also help youth successfully transition back home following an out-of-home placement. In 2022, family support served 28 families.