Foster parents open their hearts and homes to children who can no longer remain safely in their homes because of abuse or neglect. In these homes, children live with one or more non-relative, adult caregivers who have been trained, assessed, and licensed to provide a loving home. FamiliesFirst Network and our community partners license and manage these “Level II” foster home placements across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Okaloosa counties.

Placing children with a blood relative or close family friend (referred to as kinship care) can help maintain a sense of connection. Both types of caregivers require a background check and a home study to ensure safety and suitability in the home. These same caregivers can elect to become licensed as “Level I” foster home placements which comes with additional financial benefits and other supports. FamiliesFirst Network is the only provider who licenses and manages these “Level I” foster home placements across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Okaloosa counties.

This innovative approach involves the birth parents and their children moving into a supervised, supportive setting together.

This type of care is in a family setting with specially trained foster parents. Changing Horizons through Innovative Parenting Systems (CHIPS) is a program through Lakeview Center that provides therapeutic training and foster homes. Medical foster care homes are licensed by FamiliesFirst Network and operated under the Department of Health, with training and oversight provided by Children’s Medical Services.

Some children have physical or behavioral needs that require the structure and services of residential or group settings, which include community-based group homes, campus-style residential facilities, and secure facilities. Residential programs focus on working with children who have certain special needs. For instance, a group home may be a good option for an adolescent involved in the juvenile justice system or who has difficult behaviors that require 24-hour (awake) adult supervision. FamiliesFirst Network works with our team members at Lakeview Center to provide residential care at Arcadia Place for adolescent girls and Cabot Heights for adolescent boys. We also partner with United Methodist Children’s Home.

Children removed from their birth families may initially go to a shelter in a group facility or a family setting designed to keep them safe while assessing their needs. When appropriate placement is determined, they are moved. Shelter care placements are intended to be short-term. FamiliesFirst Network works with Children in Crisis and Lutheran Services of Florida, as well as our Lakeview Center team members at A New Dawn for these services.

Children and youth placed in long-term relative custody are unlikely to return home to their biological families or achieve permanency through adoption or guardianship. This legal designation is most often used to allow a child to remain under the care and custody of a family member (and in some cases a non-relative) who is willing to continue caring for the child, but does not wish to formally adopt the child.

Children whose goal has moved from foster care to adoption will move into an adoptive placement home until an acceptable match is determined. When the caregiver expresses a desire to adopt the child, the child stays in this home and is considered at-risk because the child is “at-risk” of returning to the foster care system, the parents or being placed with relatives until the parental rights have been terminated. These homes are screened similarly to traditional foster homes to ensure the safety and well-being of the children. This type of foster home is unique to each child.