Our dedicated staff of administrators, social workers, childcare workers, and support personnel carries out services designed to meet each individual child's needs. These needs are met through various programs at Harris Home for Children.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

Our residential programs offer full-time treatment services for adolescents with mental, emotional, and behavioral issues that can be managed in an open setting. All residents are provided the opportunity to learn how to replace negative behaviors with appropriate self-discipline behaviors through a variety of services and skills training:

Basic Living Skills Training                    Social and Interpersonal Skills Training                  

Behavior Modification                            Individual Counseling                              

Group Counseling                                 Promotion of Self-Discipline/Token Economy

Community-involved Activities               Workshops and Seminars

 

ADMISSIONS/INTAKE

Designated social service staff members screen and evaluate referrals for appropriateness. Referrals are only accepted from the Department of Human Resources from most counties in Alabama.

 

Basic Residential Care Program

Full-time foster care services are provided for adolescent males and females with mild emotional and behavioral issues. Through a “home-like” setting, residents work through the problems of adolescence. Emphasis is placed accountability and self-discipline.

 

Moderate Residential Program

Residents with moderate to severe emotional and/or behavioral management problems are provided the opportunity to unlearn maladaptive behaviors and replace them with appropriate self-discipline behaviors. The major objective in this program is to help residents set limits on their behaviors so they learn self-control and self-direction.

 

Transitional Living Program

Adolescents are provided opportunities to learn and master skills as they transition into self-sufficiency. In skills training, the focus is placed on budgeting and money management, job skills and employment, life skills to include driving and transportation, and continued education. Emphasis is placed on increasing self-esteem, building positive relationships, and preparing for adulthood.

 

coming Fall 2008 - Therapeutic Foster Care Program

Therapeutic Foster Care is a time-limited (usually no longer that eighteen months) intensive intervention for children, who are in the custody of the state, not able to live at home, and who fit the diagnostic and behavioral criteria set forth by the Department of Human Resources. Therapeutic Foster Care is a less restrictive, community based program for children whose special needs can be met through services delivered primarily by trained therapeutic foster parents working in full partnership with the child, the child’s family, and everyone on the Individualized Service Planning (ISP) Team. Support from all team members allows the child to benefit from a home environment and community based setting while receiving intensive treatment and clinical services. All children placed in TFC must be continually evaluated to determine the need for ongoing TFC services. TFC is not meant to be a long-term placement option but should serve to meet a child’s specific needs until he/she is ready to be stepped down to a lower level of placement.

 

SUPPORT PROGRAMS

After School Program

This program is provided for “at-risk” youth in middle school and high school, who live in foster homes or homes under the supervision of the Department of Human Resources. This service is designed to promote personal development and reinforce academic achievement by offering the following opportunities:

Tutoring and Homework Assistance            Art and Music Enrichment      

Computer Training and Assistance              Basic Living Skills Training

Class for Males on Pregnancy Prevention

 

Behavioral Specialist Program

Support services are provided to assist the Department of Human Resources in helping to strengthen and preserve the lives of the families they serve. Behavioral Specialist: supervise visits and closely monitor behaviors and interactions of each client; Provide transportation for clients in a safe and timely manner; Work closely with individual clients to assist in delivering Basic Living Skills services; Conduct themselves in a professional manner and maintain positive interactions with clients, DHR personnel, and other support providers; Adhere to Medicaid documentation requirements