Our Services Menu:
Help your community. Get involved with Meridian and influence the lives of others in a positive way. Get involved
Are you signed up for our
e-newsletter? Enter your email address below to subscribe!
Call Us Anytime:
- Toll Free:1 (800) 330-5615
- Local (North Central Florida): (352) 374-5600
Accessing Services
Children's Services
Specialized Foster Care & Respite Program
The Therapeutic Foster Home and Respite Program constitute Meridian's Therapeutic Family Care program. This program is an important part of Meridian's continuum of mental health services for children and reflects our belief that a family setting is often the best treatment environment. Children in the program are typically involved in the child protection system. Children must be diagnosed with a mental illness and receive individualized, intensive therapeutic intervention and treatment in the private homes of trained foster parents.
Treatment in the home includes individual and family therapy, behavior management with and care and supervision provided by the program's trained Therapeutic Foster Parents. Foster parents support and enhance treatment aims by implementing individualized behavior management strategies and providing a normalizing environment.
Therapy can include many approaches and interventions to help children perceive themselves and others in healthier, more functional ways. Behavioral contracts and token economies are often developed to enhance adjustment and treatment. Therapeutic Foster Parents help the child try out new behaviors and perceptions presented in therapy in a safe, family-like environment. Program goals include development of age appropriate behaviors and skills that help the child self-regulate and live in a family setting.
The Respite Program provides a brief foster home placement and includes face-to-face therapy contacts to evaluate the child's need for ongoing placement and treatment. Youth are placed for no more than 30 days in order to make this assessment. Following this 30-day period, some children are retained in the Therapeutic Family Care Program, while others are reunified with family or placed in another living or treatment environment. When alternative placement is not immediately available, the child may spend more than 30 days in respite. Treatment in the home includes individual and family therapy provided by clinical staff. Family involvement is precluded if it is determined to be detrimental to the child.