therapeutic foster care
Specialized foster care program providing intensive treatment services for children with severe emotional or behavioral disorders.
Full Definition
Therapeutic foster care is a specialized child welfare service that combines the normative family environment of traditional foster care with intensive therapeutic interventions. Foster families receive extensive training and ongoing support to care for children with complex trauma histories, severe emotional disturbances, or behavioral disorders who cannot be maintained safely in regular foster homes or family settings. The program typically includes individual therapy, family therapy, psychiatric services, case management, and 24-hour crisis support. Therapeutic foster parents work closely with treatment teams and receive higher compensation than traditional foster parents to reflect the specialized nature of their role.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from regular foster care in treatment planning documents.
In Context
- "Therapeutic foster care provided the structure needed while maintaining family-based placement." — Treatment planning meeting
- "The transition from residential treatment to therapeutic foster care required careful coordination." — Discharge planning notes