Family Works is a child-placing agency, committed to creating healing home environments for children. We provide a supportive, comprehensive approach – utilizing trauma informed care – to help children and families reach their full potential.
We are committed to creating a healthy environment for all members of the Family Works Programs community, a community in which we identify and solve problems in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.
Committed to serving kids, families and communities
A commitment to improving the quality of life for those around us is our highest priority. Everything we do is measured in terms of its impact on the best interests of the kids we serve, their families, and our treatment parent colleagues. When kids leave Family Works to live elsewhere, the bond we have formed continues. We remain available to them as extended family, always ready to offer a word of encouragement and lend a supportive hand.
Integrity and Respect = Excellence
Our effectiveness is based upon honest interaction and a moral obligation to be the best. Interactions with youth and their families, foster parents and all treatment team members are respectful and reflect the inherent worth and dignity of each person. Ongoing, thorough, and candid evaluation of ourselves and our impact on others is necessary for building a healthy environment in which kids can grow.
We believe in a Strength Based Approach
Kids whose behavior has caused problems for themselves or others are usually behaving in ways that work for them. They have learned to manage or cope through these behaviors and have often become stuck in these habits. Our challenge is to help them free themselves from these unproductive habits and help them develop new ways to meet their needs. The most effective way to help others, including children and youth, is to openly recognize their strengths and acknowledge that they are experts in their lives. Messages confirming these beliefs are likely to lead them toward further self discovery, understanding and responsibilities.
We are all teachers and learners
Each interaction with another, however brief, sends messages which may lead to that person’s growth. Each of us, regardless of our role at Family Works, is a teacher much of the time. Our goal is to make our interactions therapeutic and healthy. We also recognize that we must always continue growing. Heightening our self awareness, increasing our understanding and knowledge of the world around us, and sharpening the skills needed to function most effectively are part of our ongoing lives.
Work and play overlap
Although the tasks associated with building healthy families are often serious, our effectiveness relates directly to the joy and humor we find in our work. We appreciate and sometimes encourage nonconformity; we value spontaneity; and we promote laughter.
Teamwork works
Changes are best accomplished through cooperative and coordinated efforts of many individuals and organizations. The combined ideas, support and resources of others make our work more effective and satisfying.
We approach our work positively and with optimism
We treat kids, families and one another respectfully and positively. Respect must not always be “earned”. We send many unconditional messages of approval in the form of greetings, smiles and genuine inquiries into how a kid’s life is going. We listen carefully and effectively, communicate our caring and offer words of understanding and encouragement. Positive interaction is the basis for healing and growing.
We accept challenges
We often are presented with kids and families who have not experienced success in their attempt to improve their lives. When other systems and organizations have been unsuccessful, we seek new and innovative ways to succeed with our youth.
Changes often come in small increments
We notice and focus on small changes. Significant and lasting changes occur a little at a time. The change we seek is sometimes a slow and frustrating process. We believe that kids need us to stand by them through tough times. Patience and persistence are essential in the endeavor of foster parenting.
