The Youth Advocates Foster Care Program serves 50 foster youth in 22 different foster homes, offering regular and treatment foster care services. Our staff consists of a clinical supervisor, foster home licenser, education specialist, resource developer and three case managers. Because we have a small staff and caseload, we routinely provide services which are beyond those required by the state. Following are some of the ways our program differs from public programs, and the additional services we provide:

• More than twice the number of visits by case manager.
• Smaller caseloads. Our case managers supervise between 12-15 youth compared to an average of 24 for public programs.
• Continuity of services and staff. Far less staff turnover (staff average of 13 years working at Youth Advocates) and only one case manager per foster home.
• Additional 100 hours per year of psychiatric consultation available for foster parents, staff and youth.
• 12 hours additional training for foster parents in behavior management.
• Longer retention of foster families.
• A full-time educational specialist who administers program services including educational support, tutoring and evaluation.

The results of our foster care program and the personal relationships they build with foster parents and staff are significant. When our youth transition back to their families, move into an independent living situation, go to college or obtain employment, the support they receive from Youth Advocates helps them to end the cycle of failure and discouragement. Their lives have been changed, they move forward with their lives, and many of them keep in touch. They come back to visit, to share successes and disappointments, and because they are always welcome.