Illinois Adoption Support and Preservation Program
Program/Intervention Name
Category
Behavioral Management and Treatment, Crisis Intervention, Family Functioning, Family Support and Placement Stabilization Programs, Parent Engagement, Trauma Treatment, Pre and Post Adoption Program
Program/Intervention Description
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has contracted with private agencies across the state since 1991 to provide intensive, family-centered support and therapeutic services to help families formed through adoption and guardianship gain stability and reduce the risk of out of home placement. The services are built on the philosophy that building a family through adoption or guardianship may result in unique challenges for the family. It acknowledges that adoptive and guardianship families may have unique characteristics that differ from biologically created families and that the challenges faced by these families are best addressed through a family-centered approach. This program is voluntary and available to any family with adopted children, including those families with children adopted from other countries or through private domestic adoptions, and guardians. Each adoption support and preservation program offers a variety of strengths-based and trauma informed therapeutic interventions, which allows the program the flexibility to effectively meet the needs of the families and children. These services include support groups (for both children and adults), case management/advocacy services, children mental health advocacy services, individual and family counseling, attachment therapy, play therapy and respite. Through comprehensive assessment, program staff help gain or organize knowledge about the child in ways that parents can use. Workers both gather and interpret this information for families. The program can also offer cash assistance on a limited basis to assist families that face economic hardships that jeopardize the placement or to purchase specialized services for which no other resources are available. The program also offers crisis intervention services that provide for the 24-hour availability of workers to help families face a variety of situations. Therapists can offer immediate phone support or travel to the family’s home or any other place that they are needed.
Intervention Target Population Identified (Age Group)
6-12, 13-17, Parent/Adult, 0-5
Program Goals/Outcomes
To help parents feel better about their ability to parent; understand adoption and guardianship and its impact on children, connect current behavior to past history, understand the child's past losses and gain skills to help their child.
QIC Target Group
Post - Target 2
QIC Adoption/Guardianship Relevance Levels
LEVEL 1: Designed for Adoption or Guardianship
QIC level of Evidence
LEVEL 4: Promising Practice
