1. What types of kids are placed in Community Treatment Homes?
2. How long is a typical length of stay for these kids?
3. What is a committed resource family?
4. How are resource families matched with the children needing placement?
5. When the child is placed in a home, what kind of support services can the families expect?
6. What is involved in becoming a Licensed Community Treatment Home Foster Parent? 
7. Do Community Treatment Home families need to own a large home?
8. Do Community Treatment Home Foster Parents need to be married?

1. What types of kids are placed in Community Treatment Homes?

Typically, children who are referred to CTH’s are between the ages of 6-17 years of age and have special behavioral, emotional, physical or mental health needs.  CTH program also works well for children who have successfully completed a residential treatment program or are in foster care, but need time in a closely supervised and structured home setting before returning to his or her family or other permanent setting. 

2. How long is a typical length of stay for these kids?

Length of placement depends on many factors.  Each child will come with their own individual circumstances that have brought them into the program.  When a child is placed in a CTH, it is possible that an estimated time range will be known.  Typically, the average client stays 6 months.   

3. What is a committed resource family?

A committed resource family is essentially a foster family. They are people committed to caring for our children in care and have completed our STARS foster parent training.

4. How are resource families matched with the children needing placement?

Foster Families involved in the CTH Program are matched according to their strengths and skills. We feel that placement success increases greatly when foster parents are involved in the decision making of placements that more closely matches their desired age and the child’s specialized needs.

5. When the child is placed in a home, what kind of support services can the families expect?

Extensive services are provided to our CTH Foster Care Families by assigning a BGTM CTH Case Manager.  CTH Case Managers offer additional resources for the child including: weekly visits to the home, assist in coordinating a strength-based team approach and treatment plan for each family that will be tailored to the children’s needs, maintains monthly update contact with referring agency, coordinates therapeutic services and need referrals/services; and are available to assist family 24 hours a day.

6. What is involved in becoming a Licensed Community Treatment Home Foster Parent?  

After the initial application process, potential foster families must attend the required training to be licensed.  The STARS pre-service training is 27 hours of class room instruction with an additional 4 home visits in that time frame.  After STARS all foster families must attend an additional 18 hours of behavioral training.  BGTM will provide the training or make sure that you have the necessary resources.  All paperwork and background checks must be completed before a licensure can be offered. Your licensing worker will provide answers and support throughout the process.

7. Do Community Treatment Home families need to own a large home?

No. The home will need to have the necessary space to provide a safe and healthy environment for a child and pass the required home safety inspection.  Families are allowed to rent as well, as long as all guidelines are met.

8. Do Community Treatment Home Foster Parents need to be married?

No. Single parents may apply to become foster parents.  However, if that status changes the significant other must agree to go through the training and complete the same process, including background checks and paperwork that the licensed foster parent did.   Same sex parents would not be prohibited from becoming foster parents.

Have additional questions?

Contact Boys & Girls Town’s Community Treatment Homes department at the informational below:

Amber Warren, MSW
Community Treatment Home Licensing Specialist
Edgewood Children's Center
4485 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-619-0720 Cell
314-256-4917 Office
Amber.Warren@great-circle.org