Special Paths, Treatment Foster Care (TFC)

Special Paths, Treatment foster Care (TFC) is driving the development of this operation. Special Paths specializes in child placements for severely emotionally disturbed children between the ages of 2-15 years old. The purpose of the therapeutic foster care program is to provide the therapeutic services they are in need of to raises their level of functioning to a higher level, and to assist in securing a permanent living arrangement for them to continue to mature, until age majority. The primary goal of the program is to return children home, reuniting them with their biological families.

The child placement program started up September, 1997. There is a tremendous need for foster homes especially for African-American males. The program for recruitment is geared to recruit families (single parents included) who are interested in parenting severally emotionally disturbed children, and who are willing to share their home. The older the foster children are, the more difficult it is to place them with foster families. The goal is to identify and secure stable, loving homes for these children at an early age, such that they will not need foster home placements in their adolescent years.

The child placement academy serves the Maryland areas, Baltimore City and the surrounding counties. It is funded by Maryland State Funds, through a contract with the Department of Human Resources and other private agencies requiring child placements service. The majority of referrals for foster child placements come from Baltimore City, Department of Social Services.

Program Services:

• Therapeutic Services (individual, group, family and play therapy)
• Rites of Passage program
• Regimented Summer Camp
• 24 hour Crisis Intervention
• Respite Services
• Recruitment and training for foster parents
• Psychiatric and Psychological Services
• Academic Support Services
• In-home Therapy
• Multi-Family Retreat

Specialized Services:

• Respite (2-14 days)
• Transitional housing (30-90 days) 

All therapeutic services are provided by licensed and certified clinicians, social workers, psychologist and psychiatrist. All therapeutic services, trainings, other services and events are provided at the office site of the agency and in the foster parent's homes.