Culture

Patti’s Oct. 12 “Inside New Gloucester” Column

Susan Percy, director of Smart Child and Family Services, discusses treatment foster care at a community potluck supper Oct. 6 at New Gloucester First Congregational Church.

Treatment foster care talk

Smart Child and Family Services was created in 1995 to support the functioning of foster families. Treatment foster parents provide care for children with emotional and/or behavioral health needs while their families work toward reunifying with them or other permanency options are explored.

Smart CFS Director Susan Percy addressed this topic at a community potluck supper held at the New Gloucester First Congregational Church Vestry on Oct. 6. She explained that the program’s goal is to provide a therapeutic, corrective family experience for children who have lived through abuse, neglect or other trauma. Treatment foster families work with community resources to promote the child’s social and emotional wellbeing.

Regarding eligibility guidelines to become a treatment foster parent, a candidate must be at least 21 years of age and own or rent their home. For more information, contact Percy at the Windham office at 893-0386.

To read Patti Mikkelsen’s complete column in the Lakes Region Weekly, go to: http://news.keepmecurrent.com/inside-new-gloucester-153/