What is Gateway Woods Home-Based Services?
Gateway Woods Home-Based Services is a distinctively Christian program that revolves around one concept: the family. Families are the cornerstone of our society and the primary source of a child's nurturing, identity and stability. Our concern for the family has prompted us to provide Home-Based Services. This program is designed to work intensively with families before major problems occur, while a child is in placement, and as a continuing support after a child returns home. Gateway Woods Home-Based Services offers 24-hour consultation and crisis intervention. We'll be there when needs arise.
Preventative Care Before Major Problems
All families go through difficult times. However, certain serious situations require help from experienced family workers. In the Preventive Care phase, we work with a family before a child is removed from his/her home as a way of strengthening the family and preventing the child's removal. We enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to work with families who desire to remain intact and to provide solutions and support that help them accomplish this goal.
Concurrent Care While In Placement
When a child has been removed from the home and placed in residential or foster care, families often continue to experience great difficulty. Working in cooperation with the residential treatment team or foster care staff and parents, we help to prepare the family for the child's return by addressing issues and concerns in the home. Home-Based Services works both at the child's home and at the residential facility or foster home to ensure continuity. A treatment plan is developed for both children and parents to prepare for the child's transition back into the home, school, and community.
Aftercare Following Return Home
In the time surrounding a child's discharge, the Home-Based worker meets initially with the treatment team and then with the family in their home on an on-going basis before and after the family is reunited. The focus is on providing continuity of care, solidifying gains, and preventing a return to out-of-home placement, conflict with authorities and contact with law enforcement.
I will hope continually, and will praise God more and more. Psalm 71:14
The Goals of Gateway Woods Home-Based Services
- Basic assessment- guiding parents to see the strengths and weaknesses not only in their children, but in their individual lives as well.
- Set &achieve goals- assisting the family in setting achievable goals, prioritizing issues and encouraging application to their situation.
- Identify roles &authority- setting up family rules and consequences; developing positive and consistent standards and discipline.
- Adult role models- guiding married and single parents to model positive interaction, responsible behavior, and wise work habits, use of finances, and use of time.
- Nurturing relationships - solid parenting founded on biblical principles and based in supportive marriages.
- Positive family communication - positive parent-child communication so that children can feel encouraged and comfortable seeking advice and counsel from their parents.
- Identify spiritual needs- encouraging faith and victorious living with God's help.
- Provide availability- continuing contact with clients in order for them to proceed with confidence.