In therapeutic foster care, you’ll work alongside a team of Denali Family Services (DFS) professionals, including therapists, case managers, and social workers. This network provides guidance and support, improved communication with your professional support team, and ensures you’re not alone in managing challenging situations.

At DFS, therapeutic foster parents receive advanced training in behavioral management, trauma-informed care, and other strategies to support youth with complex needs. This training enhances your skills in caregiving, conflict resolution, and therapeutic techniques.

Therapeutic foster parents also receive higher financial compensation compared to traditional foster care. This compensation helps cover the additional time, effort, and resources required to care for children with special needs.

Therapeutic foster parents help youth who have experienced significant trauma or who have special emotional needs. By providing a stable, supportive environment, you can make a transformative difference in the youth’s life, giving them the tools to heal and thrive.

Therapeutic foster care enhances problem-solving skills, patience, empathy, and crisis management. These skills are not only useful in the caregiving role but can also translate into other areas of life, including personal relationships and professional development.

Knowing that you’ve provided a safe, loving, and structured environment for youth to heal from trauma can be incredibly rewarding. The emotional bonds formed through the process are often deep and meaningful, giving foster parents a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

If you have youth of your own, therapeutic foster care can teach them valuable life lessons about empathy, compassion, and resilience. It provides a chance for your family to bond through service and kindness.

For some foster families, therapeutic foster care may lead to adoption, offering a permanent home to youth in need. Though not the goal of every foster care placement, it can be a meaningful path for families interested in adopting.

Working through challenges with foster youth can lead to significant personal growth. It requires patience, creativity, and perseverance, which can build your emotional resilience and adaptability.

As a therapeutic foster parent, you are directly contributing to your community by providing a necessary service for youth who need stability and care. This role can strengthen community ties and foster a sense of belonging.

You’ll gain access to therapeutic services for youth, including school-break programs, after school programs, family therapy, etc.