House Parent Model

A Kid’s Place is based on a live-in House Parent model that allows brothers and sisters to live on-site with House Parents who provide a healthy and nurturing home.

Family style meals, outings, support at school functions, medical appointments, and other day to day activities provide a loving and normal existence to foster children.

Like most homes, the children do normal things like play with friends, keep their rooms tidy, and work on class projects and homework. House parents are often seen helping glue glitter on science projects or arranging pipe cleaners into a diorama display. A favorite activity in the house is baking cookies, and as one House Parent commented, “It takes a lot longer and it’s a lot messier, but the kids love to help in the kitchen!” This is one of the normal activities that many of the children haven’t experienced, so the House Parents incorporate activities like this into every day life.

One child was overheard telling another child how to make her bed: “Ms. Robin told me that you get two sheets…one for the top and one for the bottom! I never had two sheets before, so you put them on top of each other and you also get a blanket. And look at this: it’s a little sheet that your pillow slides into!”

Youth Counselors are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist House Parents with all that overseeing 12 children entails. From breakfast all the way to dinner, bath time, and bedtime stories there is always something to do. Even a simple outing to the pool at the “Y” has to be planned with military precision to make sure that each child has a towel and sunscreen, snacks and drinks for everyone, and a 12-passenger van is reserved to transport. Together House Parents, Youth Counselors, and staff trained in Trauma-Informed care provide meaningful family engagement – which is an integral part of the healing process.

two girls smiling and hugging

A Look Into Our Houses