1. How many children are placed per home?
2. How is Pressley Ridge different from other Treatment Foster Care programs?
3. Can I adopt a child from the Treatment Foster Care program?
4. What is the average length of stay for children in a Pressley Ridge home?
5. How are youth disciplined?
6. Can Treatment Parents choose what type of child they want?
7. What about the youth’s biological family?
8. What if we do not want to be full-time treatment parents?
9. Can we change our mind if the placement does not work?
10. Do we treat a Pressley Ridge youth like a normal child?
11. Does the youth go to public school?
12. Do we ever get a break?

1. How many children are placed per home?

   A: Due to the intensive nature of working with troubled children, typically only one or two children are placed in a home. Exceptions may be made for sibling groups or very experienced Pressley Ridge treatment families.

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2. How is Pressley Ridge different from other Treatment Foster Care programs?

   A: Pressley Ridge’s Treatment Foster Care families actively participate in their child’s treatment – in assessment, goal setting, utilizing interventions, and evaluation. Parents participate in professional team meetings; provide information about the child for all treatment team members, and document problems and successes. Our parents are recognized as vital members of a youth’s treatment team.

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3. Can I adopt a child from the Treatment Foster Care program?

   A: Depending on the child’s current state regulations, that may be an available option. Please check with your local Pressley Ridge office for further information. Several Pressley Ridge sites have full-service adoption departments.

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4. What is the average length of stay for children in a Pressley Ridge home?

   A: Due to the variety of complex issues that are in our children’s lives, some may be able to benefit from the Treatment Foster Care program model more quickly than others. Children have been in our care for less than a week to over 10 years, with 6 – 12 months being the average length of time in our program.

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5. How are youth disciplined?

   In following with state regulations, we are not permitted to use nor do we believe that physical punishment is a good discipline technique. There are more effective ways of disciplining a child, which you will learn in pre-service training.

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6. Can Treatment Parents choose what type of child they want?

   Yes! During the pre-service and ongoing training, as treatment parents we will be asking you questions regarding what behaviors you would be willing to work with. You will be able to read background material on the youth that will be placed in your home so you can be sure there are no secrets about his/her past. After training, we will introduce you to the youth and allow you to make a decision. The youth can do pre-placement visits with you (daytime and/or overnight) to see how the youth gets along with you, your family, and community before you make a decision.

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7. What about the youth’s biological family?

   Some Pressley Ridge youths still have contact with their biological family through phone call and/or home visits. Some parents do maintain legal rights and reunification remains a possibility. Many treatment parents have found success in working with the youth’s biological family. Doing so is the treatment parent’s personal decision.

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8. What if we do not want to be full-time treatment parents?

   If you do not wish to be a full-time treatment parent, you may choose to be a respite parent. Respite parents serve our children in the same way full-time parents do, but on a periodic basis (week-ends, two to three weekends a month, short term placements, and/or emergency placements).

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9. Can we change our mind if the placement does not work?

   If you already have a youth in your home, we require that request a written transfer of commitment. This will allow us to find another home for the youth and plan for a smooth transition. Due to the intense trauma in the history of our children, we ask treatment parents to take the commitment seriously from the beginning to avoid these types of disruptions.

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10. Do we treat a Pressley Ridge youth like a normal child?

    Certainly! The child IS a normal child or teenager, with greater than normal problems and who needs help solving his/her problems. The youth needs to feel a sense of belonging. This is all the more reason for him/her to feel “normal” and a part of your family.

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11. Does the youth go to public school?

    It depends on the youth’s issues. Some children go to public schools. Others may go to partial hospitalization (PH) programs that provide an education component in the morning and specialized groups in the afternoon that address emotional and behavioral issues. Partial hospitalization programs often provide individual counseling and medical/somatic services. In either case, the treatment parent must be willing to go to the school and advocate for the youth if the need arises (Pressley Ridge staff may assist in this matter, if needed).

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12. Do we ever get a break?

    You are entitled to breaks (respite) on a regular basis. Some families utilize respite more or less than others depending upon the nature of the youth and the requests of the parents. Respite should be agreed upon and scheduled by the staff person assigned to you and your foster child.

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More Information

For more information about Treatment Foster Care, including contact numbers and directions, please click here to view our locations directory and map.