Walden Environment

WALDEN IS A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILY AND ADOPTION AGENCY, WHICH IS ENGAGED IN THE RECRUITMENT, CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS, THE PLACEMENT OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE CHILDREN AND A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOR FOSTER YOUTH.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT (THP) PROGRAMS:UNLIKE THE NEARLY 65% OF YOUTH WHO LEAVE FOSTER CARE WITH NO PLACE TO CALL HOME AND NO CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH IN WALDENS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS LEARN HOW TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN IN THE COMMUNITY, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MENTORS, AND EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE OR LEARN A VOCATION.THP FOR NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS (THPP NMD):WALDENS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT FOR NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS PROGRAM WAS AMONG THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN CALIFORNIA. YOUTH CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN FOSTER CARE UNTIL AGE 21 TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS. WALDEN HELPS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE, COVERS RENT AND UTILITIES, AND PROVIDES BASIC HOME FURNISHINGS. IN ADDITION, WALDEN SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE STRUCTURE THEY NEED TO SET REALISTIC GOALS AND TEACH YOUTH THE LIFE SKILLS MOST YOUNG ADULTS LEARN FROM THEIR PARENTS. WALDEN CURRENTLY OPERATES THE PROGRAM THROUGH OUR RIVERSIDE, LOS ANGELES, AND SAN DIEGO OFFICES.THP-PLUS:BECAUSE FEW YOUNG ADULTS ARE SELF-SUSTAINING EVEN AT AGE 21 WITH OR WITHOUT PARENTAL SUPPORT WALDEN BEGAN OFFERING SERVICES TO FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AGES 21-25 IN 2017. OUR THP PLUS BEGAN PROVIDING UP TO 36 MONTHS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT AND LIFE SKILLS SUPPORT FOR YOUTH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND LAUNCHED A THP PLUS PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES IN 2020.

FOSTER & ADOPTION SERVICES:CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENTER FOSTER CARE WHEN THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT ABLE TO SAFELY CARE FOR THEM. WALDENS FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PROGRAM ENABLES INFANTS AND SIBLING GROUPS, YOUTH WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, AND TEENS AND CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES, AND SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO GROW UP KNOWING THE LOVE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT LIVING IN A FAMILY PROVIDES.RESOURCE FAMILIES SUPPORT AND CARE FOR CHILDREN UNTIL THEY CAN RETURN TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY. WHEN CHILDREN CANNOT RETURN TO THEIR BIRTH FAMILY, WALDEN CAREFULLY MATCHES THEM WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES SEEKING TO BUILD THEIR FAMILY THROUGH ADOPTION. WALDEN PROVIDES CHILD-FAMILY THERAPY, TRAINING, AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO FACILITATE THE FAMILYS ADJUSTMENT THROUGH EACH DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE.WALDEN PROVIDES RESOURCE FAMILY HOMES AND INTENSIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AND/OR SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS.CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS/ INTENSIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE:WALDENS SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS (SHCN) AND INTENSIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE (ISFC) PROGRAM ENABLES CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL NEEDS TO MOVE OUT OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS, INTO HIGHLY SKILLED, SPECIALLY TRAINED, AND CERTIFIED FOSTER FAMILIES. OFTEN, THESE CHILDREN HAVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT-DEPENDENT CONDITIONS AND MAY REQUIRE APNEA MONITORS, NEBULIZERS, OXYGEN, FEEDING TUBES, AND OTHER ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVES INFANTS WHO WERE DRUG-EXPOSED OR BORN PREMATURE, WHO ARE FAILING TO THRIVE, WHO HAVE INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES OR LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. FOSTER PARENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO CARE FOR THESE SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS.CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES:WALDEN SERVES THE NEEDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, INCLUDING CEREBRAL PALSY, EPILEPSY, AUTISM, AND OTHER CHALLENGES. THE GOALS ARE TO PREVENT INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND PREPARE CHILDREN AND TEENS FOR MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A FULL RANGE OF TYPICAL CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS.MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:UNDER THE CALIFORNIA CONTINUUM OF CARE REFORM, FFAS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE YOUTH IN THEIR FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS. WALDEN CONTRACTS DIRECTLY WITH SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES TO PROVIDE SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO WALDEN YOUTH IN THEIR CARE IN THOSE COUNTIES. THE CLINICS PROVIDE MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, THERAPY, REHABILITATION, AND OTHER APPROPRIATE SERVICES. CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN WALDENS OTHER DISTRICTS ARE REFERRED TO TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS.LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUESTIONING (LGBTQ) PROGRAM:WALDEN IS A RECOGNIZED CULTURALLY COMPETENT PROVIDER OF CARE FOR YOUTH. IN ADDITION TO SERVING LGBTQ FOSTER YOUTH IN OUR CARE, WALDENS LEADERSHIP PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUPPORT NATIONALLY FOR OTHER CHILD WELFARE PROVIDERS, FOSTER PARENTS, AND BIRTH FAMILIES. WALDEN ACTIVELY RECRUITS AND EDUCATES MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ABOUT BECOMING CERTIFIED FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS. WALDEN HAS ATTAINED THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION INNOVATOR STATUS, THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION AWARDED, FOR OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.FOSTER CARE FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS:WALDEN PROVIDES SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO PARENTING YOUTH THROUGH OUR HOUSING AND FFA PROGRAMS. SERVICES INCLUDE SUPPORT WITH PARENTING CLASSES, BUDGETING ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM OFFERS SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO TEENS THAT HAVE CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND TEENS WORKING TOWARD REUNIFICATION WITH THEIR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY PROGRAMSOUR SAN BERNARDINO AND VICTORVILLE OFFICES PROVIDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND COMMUNITY LIFE, AND TO SUPPORT PARENTS IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS TO BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILDREN.NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM - FIRST 5 SAN BERNARDINOWALDEN OFFERS FREE PARENTING CLASSES FOR YOUNG PARENTS WITH CHILDREN 0-5 YEARS OLD, IN THE COUNTY. USING THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM NURTURING PARENTING, THE PROGRAM OFFERS A 16-WEEK COURSE TO HELP YOUNG PARENTS PROVIDE FOR, AND IN SOME CASES REUNITE WITH, THEIR CHILDREN, AND BREAK THE CHILD WELFARE CYCLE.NURTURING FAMILY PROGRAM - LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITYWALDEN HAS A SUBCONTRACT WITH LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE NURTURING FAMILY CLASSES TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 6-11 YEARS, THROUGH A MULTI-COMPONENT INTERVENTION TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES ADDRESSING HEALTH IMPACTS OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.EXTENDED CARE/AFTERCAREWALDENS SAN BERNARDINO OFFICES OFFER CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH LIFE SKILL TRAINING AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FORMER FOSTER YOUTH 18-21 YEARS.INDEPENDENT LIFE SKILLS CLASSESWALDEN PROVIDES LIFE SKILL CLASSES THROUGHOUT SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FOR FOSTER YOUTH AGES 16-18 YEARS. CLASSES FOCUS ON KEY LIFE SKILLS INCLUDING, CAREER EDUCATION, BUDGETING, RELATIONSHIPS, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT SERVICES (CAPTS)WALDEN PROVIDES THERAPY AND PARENTING CLASSES TO FAMILIES REFERRED THROUGH SAN BERNARDINO CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES.