The Therapeutic Childcare Program

Brief Description:

Therapeutic Child Care is a service provided to the children of substance abusing women who are in treatment.  TCC takes a therapeutic holistic approach to children providing the necessary resources to address their physical, mental, emotional and social development.  TCC also provides an environment where women and women who are pregnant in recovery can learn to interact in a nurturing, constructive and healthy manner with their children, relearning and learning healthy parenting skills, while reinforcing positive family values.

Mission:

The Therapeutic Childcare Program at Hope House for Women is designed as a resource for the women and children who are residents in our program.  We join with partners in our community to assure that the physical, mental and emotional needs of the children living on site are met.  Working closely with the children and their mothers, we strive to break the cycles of abuse and addiction through education, modeling and support.  Our specially trained staff works one on one and in groups with mothers and children, to help in overcoming problems or learning how to be a healthy family.  We even offer breastfeeding support and new mother education as well as prenatal classes for our expectant and new mothers.

How it Works:

TCC/Nurturing is a cohesive component of the Hope House experience.  Minor children live on-site with their mothers. TCC provides planned therapeutic after school activities, weekends, and holidays at a minimum of 4 times per week. Infants and toddlers are placed in daycare while mothers are in treatment and/or at work. School age children attend public school as required.  Each child must have a chart on file that outlines the therapeutic childcare services to include;

A. Child History

B. Immunization records including a recent PPD skin test

C. Clinical Assessment; all children must receive a clinical/developmental;
Recommended Tools

• Connors Rating Scale ages (3-17)
• Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (must be interpreted by a clinician)
• BRIGANCE Diagnostic Inventory of early Development
• Infant – Preschool Play Assessment Scale (IPAS) birth to 5 years
• DENVER II DENVER Developmental ; birth to 6 years

D. Treatment Plan; dictated based on the assessment

E. Consent forms for school and other agencies

F. Consistent progress notes, including all referrals

G. Consent forms to provide services to minor children

Benefits:

Children participating in TCC have the opportunity to form lasting relationships with significant adults who can provide guidance, nurturing, and support.  The children can learn positive coping skills. As a result, children demonstrate improved commitments to school, healthier attitudes and behaviors regarding nonuse of substances and a sense of social responsibility, and the capability for positive problem solving.