Continuum of Care
A Nevada Perspective
As we navigate the labyrinthine world of foster care in Nevada, we discover it exists not as a standalone institution, but as an integral part of a detailed continuum of care. This continuum forms a ladder, each rung representing a different level of intensity and support required for the youth in care, designed to ensure they receive the needed assistance based on their unique situations and circumstances.
PRTF at the Peak
Providing Comprehensive Support
Within our agencies, the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) sits at the highest level. The PRTF provides the greatest level of support, offering residential mental health treatment for children and young adults battling intense psychiatric complexities. Here, youth receive round-the-clock assistance and personalized treatment planning designed to equip them with essential coping skills, resilience, and adaptability essential for transitioning to less intensive care levels in the continuum.
Taking a Step Down
The QRTP's Role
As a step below the PRTF, the Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) provides a therapeutic residential setting. A QRTP emphasizes a more community-integrated approach, offering youth the stability they need while readying them for the next stages in the continuum of care. Its programs foster care stabilization and enhance interpersonal skills, imperative for successful future adaptations.
SFC and Additional Support Options
At an even lower rung lies Specialized Foster Care (SFC), augmented with Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) if necessary. SFC focuses on fostering environments where children are cared for by dedicated professionals trained to meet their specific needs. In instances where more therapeutic support is required, IOP and PHP lend their resources, bridging the gap between home-like settings and advanced therapeutic care, to secure stable mental health.
Psychiatric Hospitals
A Support Resource
While the end goal for every child is a safe, loving family environment, psychiatric hospitals remain a supportive measure within this continuum. These facilities contribute necessary emergency assistance for acute suicidal and homicidal ideation, focusing on immediate stabilization, and ensuring the child's transition back towards the less intensive care levels.
Bamboo Sunrise's Perspective on Family Foster Care
From the perspective of Bamboo Sunrise - a champion in family foster care - the national standards, the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), and the Council on Accreditation (COA) play an indispensable role in determining the quality and efficiency of foster care. Our standpoint emphasizes the primacy of family-based settings, justifying FFPSA's provisions focused on reducing the use of congregate or group care.
Bamboo Sunrise views national standards put forth by governing bodies as a primary reference point, ensuring the care provided nurtures the overall emotional, physical, and psychological well-being of the child, all aligned cohesively with FFPSA and COA standards. We firmly believe this family-oriented focus not only improves the foster care system but ensures, above all, that the needs of the child reign paramount in decision-making processes.