Child & Family Focus, Inc. (CFF) offers an exceptional Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) program. Like typical foster care, a child unable to live with his own family lives with a foster family. TFC families provide basic care to the child, along with much more. They play an important role of being part of a therapeutic team, to help provide emotional healing and behavior supports to the child. TFC families help children to learn to live in a healthy family environment and become an active member of the community.
Our approach is unique in that our staff members work to support not only with the foster child, but also with his/her natural family, as well as with the Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) family. The Therapeutic Foster Care team gets to know each family and work with them and the children to incorporate a positive, flexible, and strengths-based approach. CFF views its TFC families as an invaluable part of a treatment team. The means that the foster family’s input, observations, and insight are crucial and valued by the CFF team members. CFF strongly supports its foster families by providing them with:
(for those interested in opening up their homes)
Thank you for your interest in learning about what it takes to become a Therapeutic Foster Care Parent with Child and Family Focus, Inc. In order to be eligible and begin the assessment process, you must:
Our high assessment standards are in place to provide protection to our families utilizing the Therapeutic Foster Care services, as well as to our providers. Any information that is contrary to, or incompatible with, the above criteria will result in the denial of applicants.
If you feel you meet these criteria and would like to apply to be a Therapeutic Foster Care Parent please complete the Provider Application and if applicable, the Secondary Provider Application and send to Jill Taylor at jtaylor@childandfamilyfocus.org or mail the completed application(s) to
Child and Family Focus, Inc
Attention Jill Taylor
500 North Walnut Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
To apply to be a Therapeutic Foster Care Parent, please complete the Provider Application and if applicable, the Secondary Provider Application and send to Jill Taylor at jtaylor@childandfamilyfocus.org or mail the completed application(s) to
Child and Family Focus, Inc
Attention Jill Taylor
500 North Walnut Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
If you would like more information on the Therapeutic Foster Care Program please contact Jill Taylor at 484-732-8459 x 40 or jtaylor@childandfamilyfocus.org
Therapeutic means healing, and to foster is to nuture. Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) does just that: provides children with mental health needs an opportunity to heal in a nurturing, supportive environment.
The treatment of children in a family setting is the principal focus of this program. In most cases, reunification with the natural or legal family is the goal.
Therapeutic Foster Parents are invaluable to Child & Family Focus, Inc. (CFF), and play a pivotal role in the program. TFC parents serve as both caregivers of children with treatment needs (the foster role), and are catalysts of planned change (the treatment role). They perform the function of a loving parent, and at the same time are an integral part of a professional treatment team.
If you meet the Foster/Respite parent qualifications (see Who is Eligible? tab), are willing to participate in our annual training program, & can offer unconditional love and commitment to a child, then the answer is Yes!
The children we serve come from natural family homes, other foster homes, residential treatment facilities, group homes, or psychiatric hospitals.
No, you are never obligated, and must be comfortable with and equipped to care for the children brought into your home. To help you decide if the placement is a good one, CFF will provide you with information on the child’s background, mental health, and behaviors. We respect the decisions of our providers, and understand limited preferences & resources.
The nature of foster care is temporary, with the hopes of reunification; however, each child’s situation is unique. A child may stay in your home for up to six months, a year, or even longer.
The goal of TFC is reunification, but meeting that goal can naturally leave an empty feeling. Just as parents raise their biological children, knowing one day they will leave their home, we must prepare foster children to do the same. There is never a replacement for a child, but when one leaves your home, there will undoubtedly be another one that needs your caring and support.
Yes, along with the intangible benefits that come with providing TFC, our providers receive a daily reimbursement to cover the costs of caring for the child, including health care. CFF does require that your income is sufficient to meet the needs of the family prior to becoming a provider.
TFC providers must have no criminal or child abuse record, as verified by the state of PA. Providers must live in a home that meets PA safety standards (determined during a home safety inspection and interview conducted by our agency, as well as a fire safety inspection, conducted by your local fire company). Providers must be willing to follow rules and regulations set forth by CFF.
CFF provides clinical support, 24 hour/7 day telephone assistance, crisis support, & respite care, when necessary. Providers must be willing to participate in our annual training program, which includes First Aid & CPR.