The Haven

 

Residential group homes, such as The Haven, are contracted by the state of Florida to provide a standard level of food, shelter and care to the foster children who reside in these facilities. But, there is one distinctive component that places The Haven’s program above and beyond other group homes: Turning Point.

 

The state and Palm Beach County provide funds for room and board, and Medicaid reimburses part of the therapeutic services provided to our boys. However, these funds cover only their basic living needs, which is why The Haven developed the Turning Point program consisting of Life & Independent Living Skills, Academic Inspiration and Motivation and Early Essentials for Work Readiness.

 

Numerous studies and reports clearly conclude that foster children are not prepared for the demands of adulthood and independence at age 18, as required by the state of Florida’s Road to Independence Act. Therefore, The Haven’s Turning Point program ensures our boys acquire the competencies they need when they reunite with their families, join foster families, are adopted or become independent, self- supporting adults.

 

Our exclusive Turning Point program teaches our young men independent living skills from the day they arrive at The Haven, regardless of age, until they leave on their 18th birthdays. Turning Point particularly assists our 17-year-old boys who, on the day they turn 18, must move out of The Haven into a safe and secure living environment.

 

 

Our academic and tutoring program provides one-on-one tutors, instructional materials and funding for an academic coordinator to oversee the academic progress of our young men. The primary goals of each individually designed program are to continue academic progress toward high school graduation, create a passion for learning and develop critical thinking skills. Through the daily educational support and the positive progress our boys experience from working with a tutor, they gain the motivation and desire necessary for completion of high school.

 

In addition, when our boys turn 16-years-old they begin preparing for their transition to independent living at age 18. Group and individual sessions encourage them to succeed by teaching practical tools for everyday life such as opening a bank account, riding public transportation, preparing meals and more.

 

 

This program prepares our at-risk youth for work readiness in a job-like experience that teaches the value of work and its rewards. Participants become involved in career exploration, strategic planning, banking and money management, communication, work ethics, time management, problem solving, interviewing, and the importance of appearance and self- confidence. It also helps them identify their strengths, focus on attitude or behavior barriers to workplace success, evaluate career options, and prioritize steps to move toward employment and, ultimately, self-sufficiency.

 

 

This program provides the training, learning experiences and assessments in the areas of daily living and home life, self care, career planning, communication and relationships, housing, money management, social development, work life, transportation options and community resources.

 

 

The majority of the children residing at The Haven demonstrate emotional and/or behavioral health issues that have compromised their success in less structured foster care placements. In The Haven’s residential group home environment, our professional staff delivers a program that helps our young men recognize and accept what they have emotionally experienced, leading to their placements in foster care. Also, they learn the coping and behavior management skills necessary to begin to live an emotionally healthy life.