Path To Permanency

The Bair Foundation provides a diversified spectrum of services through the Path to Permanency Program utilizing evidence-based parenting programs. Bair is a full service provider for children, youth and families; therefore, continuity of care is built into the service array.

As a Trauma-Informed Service Provider, Bair recognizes that when children and families have fewer staff working with them in a concentrated manner, they are able to achieve expedited success. Not only does it reduce duplication of services and the need for multiple treatment plans, it also provides them with seamless access without needing to communicate with multiple service providers. Reduction in duplication, along with a focus on time-limited services may come at an initial up-front cost, but ultimately creates a cost savings on the child delivery system. Creating healthy children and families for a permanent tomorrow is the desired outcome of the Path to Permanency Program.

Every branch of a tree grows in different directions taking alternate paths, but the tree maintains the same roots.

Helping families understand the ultimate goal is to prevent a disruption of a child’s growth, but when that is not able to occur, children need to maintain their roots while growing on another path. That path may be growing with a kinship family, growing with an adoptive family, or even possibly growing out to be on their own through independent living and employment. For these children, Bair’s older youth initiative strives to Foster Futures of young people who are in need of forever connections with trusting adults and the skills necessary to achieve success. Regardless of the path, Bair is here to help the child and family as they work through these stages of growth in permanency. Therefore, The Bair Foundation developed the Path to Permanency Program to help children and families as they journey to permanency.

*Transportation for all services is available at an additional fee.

For referrals - call or email The Bair Foundation with the family’s information and which services you want the family to receive.

Please include the following information in the referral: • Type of service(s) requested • Number of hours approved • Name of the identified client (in family units only one person is the identified client) • Contact information for the client: address and phone number • Any supplemental information about the family/client history is greatly appreciated

The Bair Foundation Path Program will then reach out to the family within 24 business hours to schedule an intake meeting with the family/client.

Services are available on a first come, first served basis due to availability of employees and visitation space. The Bair Foundation will make every effort to work around families’ schedules. Families will be placed on a waiting list if their preferred time slot is not available and the referral source will be contacted to let them know of the waitlist status.

There are times when previous prevention efforts were not successful or children were in need of immediate out-of-home placements. It is in those instances that the program works to provide a safe and structured environment where families can visit with one another with an expedited focus of reunification. Having a natural family environment within the Path to Permanency home allows families to demonstrate skills for safe bathing, safe supervision and interaction as well as their ability to properly prepare a meal while ensuring their child’s safety.

For families who are able to effectively parent their children, but are lacking financial or service resources, the team will support the family and help them connect to the appropriate community resources. When parents participate in this service, they are able to bring their laundry to the Path House and take showers, if needed. The Bair Foundation is here to support all of the family’s needs.

As part of this service, The Bair Foundation works with local churches to identify Parent Mentors who are families that are able to lend a helping hand. If a client family needs a ride to the grocery store or someone to watch their children so they can go out to search for employment, they would be able to connect with church family as a means of natural support for when the formal service provision ends.

As a system, we often fail to fully engage fathers. This service is provided to give fathers a voice and a relationship with their child. Although the father may not be a residential option for the child, it does help the child with a sense of identity and healthy connection of support. Fathers play an important role for children and the Path to Permanency Program focuses on developing permanent connections for children which increase a child’s resiliency.

Similar to the concurrent planning service, the Co-Parenting service is geared towards a unity of caregivers for the child. If parents are separated or divorced, this would be an appropriate service to help them work together for the child instead of using the relationship with the child as a weapon of retaliation. This can also be used if you have kinship relatives who want to connect with the child as a means of support. If you have a mother and paternal grandparents who both want what is best for the child, they could also participate in this service.

The service is able to meet the needs of children with a concurrent plan. If there is a concurrent plan in place, the Path Team Advocate will work with the biological family as well as the resource family in pre and post sessions of visitation. This will help the families work together with one common goal for the child: healthy adjustment.

Children in resource home care often experience a sense of guilt with each of the families due to biological family loyalty as well as resource family attachment. Thus there are maladaptive behaviors associated with pre and post family visits. Many of these maladaptive behaviors are what leads to a child’s placement being disrupted.

Promoting placement stability is necessary to the child’s well being. Having a united team allows the child to feel loved and supported, while the grown ups (the entire adult team) figures out where the home of permanence will be located.

When a resource family has given a “30-day” notice for a child to no longer live in their home, this service acts as a means of urgent intervention. Throughout the 30-day notice, the team works with the resource family to understand trauma at a deeper level.

Trauma behaviors are the number one reason for placement disruptions. Utilizing the resources from the National Center for Trauma and Stress Network (NCTSN), the families will have a better understanding of “what has happened to this child” versus “what is wrong with this child.” This gives the resource parents a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the child’s life when crisis arises. The most optimal time to build a relationship with a child is in the midst of crisis. Specific interventions for the trauma behaviors are planned out by the team for the family to implement. The goal is to have the family remain committed to the child as a member of their home.

For children who have received out-of-home placements, it is the goal of the Path to Permanency Program that they will not return into care. In an effort to reduce reentry rates, this program focuses on the stabilizing the family unit. This service can be utilized for children who are returning home from kinship care, foster care, community residential rehabilitation programs, hospitalization programs, or residential treatment facilities.

The majority of families referred for services lack the skills or resources to effectively parent their children. As a prevention model, the Path to Permanency Program is designed to teach parents the skills needed based on their child’s appropriate developmental age. The goal is to have children remain in the care of their parents throughout and after the service provision.

“I want to thank you so much for all your diligent efforts on this case. You literally took a service that had been stagnant for too long and aided this mother in making a complete turnaround in 3 months! Thank you so much!

“My experiences with the Path house have been wonderful. The staff is professional and trained to meet whatever needs the families have - from transportation to medical services. There is minimal wait time from the referral to the first visit. There are monthly reports that are timely and informative. I have sent many difficult cases to the Path House since they have opened, and have had appropriate outcomes.

As for their court testimony, they are prepared to answer any and all questions either by the attorneys, hearing officers, or judges. I would not hesitate to recommend the Path House to anyone.”

- DSS/SSW Worker

-Referring Case Worker

“Thank you for your kindness, patience, and connections to community resources. Your diligent assistance will help my children return home.”

“Thank you for traveling with me on the bus to help me learn the bus routes to school.” (This teen started Community College in August.)

-Biological Family

- Foster Teen

“Your staff is welcoming and informative. They keep me up to date on what is happening with our families.

They are willing to assist with any changes that we recommend. I’ve also seen the interactions with the families. They are so compassionate and caring when listening and assisting them. They are also prompt in returning emails and phone calls, so kudos on great communication!”

- Referring Case Worker

“I love that I am able to be with my family without worrying. I can just walk, play around, and cook pancakes. And it’s all good. It’s, like, the most chill part of my week.”

-Foster Child

“The employees of The Path House are amazing! They are kind, understanding and helpful. They go ‘above & beyond’ what they have to do to help you succeed. They have provided my family and I with services that have helped me truly turn my life around. They provided my kids and I with everything from dishes, furniture, and most recently an Easter dinner! (Above & beyond!)

They stood beside me through my ‘less than best’ times, pushed me to realize what I could do & helped me achieve it! Without the Path House employees’ support and help, I don’t know if the reunification with my kids would’ve happened as quickly as it has - or even at all!”

- Biological Parent “It’s pretty lit (a.k.a. awesome) and the people are fun!”

-Foster Teen

“Your staff was ever so helpful to me. It’s been over 30 years since I have had to raise a grade-school child.

I forgot how hard and stressful the experience was.”

- Kinship Family

National Office 241 High Street New Wilmington, PA 16142 800-543-7058