Foster Care
Beech Brook has one of the largest foster care programs in the Cleveland area, providing foster care information, training and support for those wishing to become a foster parent and change the life of a child forever.
When children must be taken from their families, whether temporarily or permanently, Beech Brook’s network of family and treatment foster homes provide a 24-hour therapeutic environment where healing can begin.
More than ever before, children coming into foster care are increasingly troubled, with multiple problems stemming from chronic abuse and neglect, exposure to violence or parental drug and alcohol addiction. Far too many have been moved from place to place, leaving them feeling unwanted, angry and hopeless about their futures.
While in foster care at Beech Brook, children and teens have access to a full range of mental health services, including:
- Individual, group and family therapy
- Psychiatric consultation
- Art and music therapy
- Therapeutic activities
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Training in independent living skills for older teens
Working Together to Help Children
Beech Brook foster parents and staff work together to help children prepare for reunification with their biological families when possible, adoption for those who will not be returning to their birth families, or, in the case of teens, independent living.
For foster parents choosing to adopt children who have been permanently removed from their birth families, foster-to-adoption assistance is available.
Adoption
Since 1976, Beech Brook’s Adoption program has been seeking families to open their hearts and their homes to children with special needs, including older children, children with diagnosed mental health issues and sibling groups hoping to grow up together in one family. Many have been traumatized by abuse, neglect or multiple moves. Often they require ongoing therapy and support to overcome the emotional scars of their pasts.
Adoption Support
We understand that becoming an adoptive parent is not a simple process. That’s why we offer the most comprehensive services available for adoptive families, from pre-placement through the post-legalization period. Foster-to-adoption assistance is also available.
In addition, families who adopt a child through Beech Brook have access to many of our programs, geared toward helping them through any bumps in the road as their new family grows together.
