Foster Care
My Child is in Foster Care
Bringing Families Together
Reunifying Families Safely
The goal of the child welfare system is to protect children and provide services to help them safely stay at home. When a court decides a child can no longer stay at their home, the Children’s Division and court system will work together with the family to try to help the child safely return home. By working together, most children are able to eventually return home to their parent(s), grandparent or another relative.
The court ultimately decides if a child should enter foster care.
Depending on the needs of the child, placement may be provided by a relative or kin that has been approved for placement, a licensed foster parent or a licensed residential facility. The court will also ultimately decide if and when things have improved to the point that a child can safely return home.
What's Next?
Bringing Families Together partners with the State of Missouri to protect children and provide services to families so that their children can return and remain safely at home.
Once children are in foster care, we work with the families and the courts with a goal of reunification.
As a parent, you have rights! Continue reading this page for more information. Another great resource to support you as a parent is the Missouri Children's Division Parent Handbook. We have also included a list of additional resources on this page.
Foster Care Case Management
Bringing Families Together provides contracted foster care case management services to families whose children have been placed in the foster care system, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Social Services – Children’s Division.
These children have been placed in the custody of the State of Missouri by the Family Court due to issues of abuse and/or neglect. A Family Service Worker (FSW) is assigned to each case.
The FSW:
-
Serves no more than 20 children at a time on a caseload
-
Links families to resources in their communities
-
Oversees the family’s progress towards reunification by monitoring and adjusting services
-
Monitors each child’s safety and stability in the foster placement
-
Provides information and recommendations to the Family Court in legal proceedings
Intensive In-Home Services / Intensive Family Reunification Services (IIS/IFRS)
Intensive In-Home Services
Intensive In-Home Services (IIS) is a free crisis intervention program serving families in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. The intervention is designed to keep families together.
Intensive Family Reunification Services
Our Intensive Family Reunification Services (IFRS) assists children and their parents as they reunite from the children’s time in foster or out of home care.
The IFRS program interventions can last up to 90 days, depending upon the family’s progress and the court’s requirements.
The IFRS program requires a minimum of 4 in-person contact hours per week. Specialists are flexible and work directly with the family’s availability.
More Information on IIS / IFRS
For more information on both our IIS / IFRS programs, please visit our Intensive In-Home Services / Intensive Family Reunification Services.
How to receive IFRS Services
Interested in our IFRS services? Call us at 314-401-9573, Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) – we would love to hear from you! (IFRS services will require a case manager referral.)
Contact your IIS / IFRS Specialist
Need to reach out to your IIS/IFRS specialist? See our ISS/IFRS team for their contact information.
Transitional Living Scattered Site (TLSS) Program
The Transitional Living Scattered Site (TLSS) program provides youth who are in foster care, ages 18 through 20, with a place to live and the opportunity to learn valuable life skills that will help you successfully reach independence.
Our program provides clean, safe, one-bedroom apartments that are fully furnished and are located in the community - close to shopping, employment and with full access to the services and resources you will need throughout your time in the program.
Rent, furnishings, utilities and food are covered under the program, and you will slowly learn how to budget for and pay monthly bills.
Our staff are understanding of your time in foster care and all the challenges that can entail. They are there to help you successfully navigate the program and develop the skills that you need to meet the goals you and your team have set for you.
TLSS can offer a smooth transition from foster care into living independently with the ability to support your lifestyle.
Our goal is to assist you into becoming a productive, and satisfied adult.
Areas of focus in the program are: teaching youth how to find an affordable apartment, understanding the terms of a lease, and how to pay rent, utilities and other personal bills.
Youth also learn how to budget, cook, create a menu, shop, communicate effectively, resolve conflict, and many other skills they will need as an adult.
