Foster Care Overview
Kentucky has approximately 7120 children who have been removed from their home due to circumstances of abuse, neglect or level of care unable to be met in a home setting. United Children's Services intends to provide out of home services to children and families in need within the Salt River Trail Region of Kentucky. According to a recent Out of Home Care Report (February 3, 2008, TWS-W58) there are 841 children in out of home care within the Salt River Trail Region. 516 of those children are placed in foster care; less than 27% are placed in region or within close proximity of the family of origin. 60.4% of those children have a goal of reunification with a parent or relative.
In the Salt River Trail Region: 40% of children entering foster care are under six years of age, 36% are over the age of twelve. The average length of out of home placement for a child is 21 months, having 3 placement disruptions during the course of that stay.
United Children's Services, Inc. will provide intensive supportive and clinical services in the homes of specially trained foster parents within the Salt River Trail Region. All therapeutic personnel and foster parents will receive specialized and on going training in order to successfully address the needs of the clients served. Natural family involvement is a priority of the agency. Permanent reunification with the natural family or relative(s) can only occur with regular and productive interactions between the child, the family and the treatment staff. Foster parents and agency personnel will provide interventions and treatment, protection, care, and nurturance to meet the developmental and/or psychiatric needs of children so as to minimize the potential for placement disruption.
United Children's Services, Inc. staff and personnel will respond proactively to challenges associated with placement and assessing the need for services or placement changes. Children who have been experienced multiple placement disruptions will receive additional support and services.
