Building Families For Children

THE MISSION OF BUILDING FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN IS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST BY HELPING MARYLAND'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN THRIVE IN FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1920 TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN FAMILIES, RATHER THAN IN ORPHANAGES, WHERE OUR FOUNDERS BELIEVED THEY WERE MOST LIKELY TO GET THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THEY NEEDED. TODAY WE HOLD FAST TO THAT BELIEF, AND CONTINUE THE WORK BY MOBILIZING THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.

THE CHOSEN PROGRAM PROVIDES FAMILY-BASED TREATMENT FOSTER CARE (TFC) FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES BY A LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS). DUE TO CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THEY REQUIRE MORE THAN THE BASIC CARE, SUPPORT, LOVE AND NURTURING THAT REGULAR FOSTER CARE PROVIDES. OUR APPROACH IS ATTACHMENT-BASED AND TRAUMA INFORMED AND IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN. CHOSEN STAFF TRAINS AND PROVIDES WEEKLY IN-HOME SUPPORT TO TREATMENT FOSTER PARENTS SO THEY CAN PROVIDE CARE THAT HELPS THE YOUTH HEAL FROM TRAUMA AND TEACHES NEW COPING SKILLS. THE HOPEFUL OUTCOME IS THAT THE CHILDREN REMAIN STABLE IN THEIR FOSTER FAMILY AND EVENTUALLY MEET THEIR PERMANENCY GOAL.

SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN MOBILIZES A NETWORK OF COMPASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS TO WRAP AROUND FAMILIES FACING CRISIS. WHILE SOME VOLUNTEERS TEMPORARILY PROVIDE HOUSING FOR CHILDREN, OTHERS STEP IN TO MENTOR PARENTS AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. THESE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS PROVIDE THE SAFETY NET MANY VULNERABLE FAMILIES NEED TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM STABILITY. MANY FAMILIES TODAY ARE ISOLATED, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANYONE TO CALL WHEN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE, LEAVING THEM VULNERABLE. THIS IS WHERE SAFE FAMILIES CAN STEP IN. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A SAFE, NURTURING HOME FOR CHILDREN, ALLOWING PARENTS TO FOCUS ON CRISIS SITUATIONS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT LOSING PARENTAL CUSTODY, WHILE PROVIDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT AS PARENTS WORK TOWARDS STABILITY.

IN OUR THERAPEUTIC FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM, THERAPISTS WORK WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO ADDRESS EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES RESULTING FROM TRAUMA. WE HELP FAMILIES OF ALL TYPES (ADOPTIVE, FOSTER, AND BIOLOGICAL) TO CONNECT, HEAL, AND THRIVE TOGETHER. CHILDHOOD TRAUMA MAKES A LASTING IMPACT ON THE BRAIN, HINDERING A CHILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN, GROW, AND FORM HEALTHY ATTACHMENTS WITH OTHERS. OUR THERAPIST'S APPROACH IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF TRUST-BASED RELATIONAL INTERVENTION (TBRI), A HOLISTIC, ATTACHMENT-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERVENTION DESIGNED TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN.