Treatment Foster Care (TFC)
Links: Treatment Foster Care | Become a Treatment Foster Parent

"St. Aemilian's TFC program is among the best in Milwaukee, if not the best. All St. A's TFC providers are invested in meeting my client's treatment needs. Thanks St. A's!" -- Treatment Foster Care Purchaser view more testimonials

See the quick links to specific info below:
- Overview
- What is Treatment Foster Care?
- Waukesha County Respite Program
- Important Forms and Other Resources

Contact Us

TFC Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties
8901 West Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53222
(414) 463-1880 ext. 200
(414) 465-5790 fax

TFC Manitowac and Sheboygan Counties
2508 South 8th Street
Sheboygan, WI 53081
(920) 452-9706
(920) 208-0221 fax

TFC - Racine County
1717 Taylor Avenue
Racine, WI 53406
(262) 638-6574
(262) 638-6369 fax

 

Overview
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Since 1984, St. Aemilian-Lakeside's Treatment Foster Care program has been providing safe, nurturing foster homes for children with special needs who are unable to live with their families. Children in the TFC program may be boys or girls aged 0-18, though generally they are older than 10 years of age. Children in the program receive ongoing therapy and treatment services from our dedicated therapists and social workers.

At the heart of the Treatment Foster Care program are the hundreds of caring and generous treatment foster parents who, with the extensive training and support of our TFC therapists, provide the nurturing and therapeutic home environment to shepherd these children through difficult times.

If you are interested in becoming a treatment foster parent, or in learning more about the special rewards of treatment foster care, please contact us. You may find more information below and on the Become a Treatment Foster Parent page.

 

What is Treatment Foster Care?
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Treatment foster care (TFC) refers to foster care for children who have special needs due to emotional, behavioral, or medical challenges. While in foster care, these children receive ongoing therapy and treatment services.

Today, St. Aemilian-Lakeside's Treatment Foster Care program receives referrals for both boys and girls from all over the state. St. Aemilian-Lakeside originally developed the TFC in 1984 to meet the needs of boys who had completed residential treatment but were unable to return to their parent's home. In 1995, a partnership program opened in Waukesha County, and in 2003, branch offices expanded the program to Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Racine Counties.

To become a licensed treatment foster parent, individuals must pass a thorough assessment process and receive a minimum of 36 hours training. While a child is placed in the treatment foster home, a TFC therapist provides ongoing support for the foster parents as well as the child.

Services provided to foster parents through the St. Aemilian-Lakeside TFC program include:

• Weekly visits from TFC therapists
• Monthly Foster Parent Support Group meetings
• Ongoing training programs
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Respite services
• Financial compensation
• Title 19 health insurance for foster children

Waukesha County Respite Program
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The St. Aemilian Lakeside / Waukesha County Respite Program provides primary caregivers of a special needs child a needed break through the use of safe, nurturing foster homes. Respite providers take over the care for the special needs child in the provider's home for up to 30 days per calendar year. Most respite is provided on the weekends.

The St. Aemilian-Lakeside Respite Program was founded in 1995 as a partnership between The Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services and St. Aemilian-Lakeside.

Why Respite?
Respite increases the primary caregiver's support system by establishing an ongoing relationship between the respite provider and the primary caregiver's family. The Respite program's goal is to prevent out-of-home placements for children.

Who Does the Program Serve?
The Respite Program serves families of children with special needs who are referred by the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services. These families may have any or all of the following characteristics:

• Children aged 0-18 who are emotionally troubled, developmentally disabled, or physically handicapped
• Children that may be at risk of out of home placement
• A lack of other respite resources

The Respite Process
Respite providers are licensed foster parents. They are matched with a family or primary caregiver whose child best fits the respite provider's skills, interests, and preferences. Providers are paired with a family for as long as the family remains in the program. Respite periods are arranged between the provider and the family, usually one weekend per month. The primary caregiver provides transportation to and from respite.

Become a Respite Provider
Anyone over 21, single or married, who is interested in caring for special needs children may apply to become a respite provider. Preferred candidates have weekends and/or after-school hours available to provide care. No previous experience is necessary.

Respite providers receive financial compensation and the satisfaction of helping families in need.

For more information on the St. Aemilian-Lakeside/Waukesha County Respite Program, please contact St. Aemilian-Lakeside.

Important Forms and Other Resources
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For your convenience, you may download the following PDF forms (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open PDF files. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free, go to this link):

· TFC Referral Form
· Treatment Foster Parent Application
· Treatment Foster Application - Child
· General Pediatric Clinic - Elementary School
· General Pediatric Clinic - Teenager Visit
· Dental / Eye Exam Form
· On-Going Training Opportunities
· TB Test Form - Foster Parent
· Homeowners Renters Insurance Form
· Vehicle Liability Insurance Form
· Pet Vaccination Verification Form

Helpful Links
The Annie E. Casey Foundation: www.aecf.org
A wealth of information about all areas of child welfare, including foster care.

The Child Welfare League of America: www.cwla.org
Advocacy and research related to child welfare. Excellent links to statistical information.

Foster Family-Based Treatment Association: www.ffta.org
An excellent site devoted to treatment foster care.

The National Foster Parent Association: www.nfpainc.org
An organization that supports foster parents through education and advocacy.