| Family Focus |
At Ozanam, it is our philosophy that family separation or long-term, out-of-home placement of children can be avoided if diagnostic information and supportive intervention services are offered during a family crisis. The Family Focus Program combines a complete array of residential treatment services with in-home support services to help families work through their most urgent problems and learn the skills they need to remain together safely. It is the program's goal that once the most urgent problems have been addressed and the risk of separation has been avoided, and then the family can seek intensive in-home therapy and supportive services including outpatient counseling for any problems that remain. Each family is served by a family support team consisting of a licensed therapist, case manager, in-home support specialist, adjunct therapists, youth care and educational staff. This team works closely with the family and community resources to plan, coordinate and carry out the treatment process. During the residential phase of the treatment, psychiatric consultation is available to review the child's medication and progress, with referrals to community psychiatrists once the child has returned to his or her home. Medical needs are coordinated by the nursing staff, and an educational consultant is available to facilitate assessments and transitional planning. The Family Focus Program is designed to serve families classified as high risk with multiple problems whose child has been or is about to be placed outside of the home. Families served by this program typically are dealing with:
To be eligible, at least one family member must be willing to participate with the child in this program. Because proximity to Ozanam is essential for interaction between staff, children and families, this program is primarily available to families residing in Clay, Platte, Ray, Cass and Jackson counties in Missouri, and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. The Family Focus Program offers a family-intensive model of treatment consisting of up to 90 days of residential care, followed by an in-home aftercare program of up to 180 days. Services mirror those provided in residential treatment, with the addition of in home support services and community transition assistance. Respite care is also provided during the in-home portion if necessary to assist in de-escalating time of crisis. |
Ozanam is part of Cornerstones of Care, a partnership of agencies providing therapeutic treatment services for children and families. Visit our Affiliations and Partners page to find out more.
