Why Become A

Lighthouse Family Network Home?

There are lots of reasons to become a foster home. At Lighthouse we believe it is a special calling for people

with specific gifts of love and concern that allow them to provide the kind of commitment, guidance and

consistency to each new child who comes, while dealing with the loss of each child who leaves. We believe

it is a job that calls for deep faith in both the Creator, and His creation. Foster parents have an opportunity,

like no other people on earth, to discover the hidden treasure in the life of a child.

One of the most important decisions you will make in becoming a foster parent is for whom you will foster.

From the initial decision to place a specific child in a particular home to the kinds of support, training and

Encouragement you receive, the Child Placing Agency verifying your home and placing children in it is an

essential element in determining the success of placements in your home. Therefore, it is important that

you attend as carefully to the choice of where you will foster as you do to the decision to foster at all. Those

who have been in foster care for any period of time will tell you "where you foster makes a difference."

There are many reasons to become a foster parent through the Lighthouse Family Network. Among them:

Deep Roots In Foster Care

More than a quarter of a Century ago Leona and Lamar Lambert took in their first foster child. Since then,

literally hundreds of children have come through that home and gone on to adulthood. It was Leona

Lambert's belief that, with each child was an opportunity to show God's love. She believed that all children

deserve a chance, and it was her dream to be able to provide that chance for them. From Leona Lambert's

dream has sprung the Lighthouse Family Network, committed to seizing the opportunity and providing the

chance. All Lighthouse homes reflect the same philosophy of compassion and caring that brought the

Lambert family into foster care and has kept them there for generations.

Quality Homes

The Lighthouse Family Network recruits foster parents from throughout the Christian community. Utilizing a

down-to-earth and applicable training program, Lighthouse is able to give prospective foster parents a

genuine feel for the kinds of problems, backgrounds and behaviors children may bring to their home.

Through interactive exercises with the group, the Lighthouse staff is able to observe and evaluate

prospective parents' reactions to potential situations likely to occur in the home should children be placed.

Those parents who remain in consideration following the pre-service training are further evaluated by an

extensive, in-depth home study.

Extensive Training

Each Lighthouse Family Network Foster Parent is required to receive a minimum of fifty (50) hours of

specialized training annually to deal with therapeutic children. However, Lighthouse Family Network

offers that number of training hours each year for parents and more. Additionally, Lighthouse Family

Network encourages foster parents to participate in trainings offered by others, such as the Texas

Foster Family Association (all Lighthouse Families are members of the Texas Foster Parent Association,

TFFA, www.tffa.org ), area treatment centers and psychiatric hospitals, universities and community

colleges. Training is monitored on a regular basis to assure foster parents are current or ahead in training

needs. Parents are encouraged to obtain training in areas of special interest or special need to adequately

serve children in the home.

Excellent Therapy

Children in Lighthouse Family Network Treatment Homes receive state of the art therapy. Whether provided

by staff or contract therapists, services are provided by Master's Level or above therapists who specialize in

working with abused children, particularly those children with attachment disorders. Depending on the needs

of the specific child, they may be seen in individual, group or family therapy. Many participate in more than one

form of therapy. All therapists, whether staff or contract, work under the supervision of Lighthouse Family

Network's Clinical Director. Therapists work diligently to stay abreast of effective modalities and treatments

for children served through Lighthouse. Therapy staff and foster parents have ready access to consultation

by licensed Psychologists and Child Psychiatrists. Services are available to the foster family and may be

made available to the child's biological family, when warranted while the child is in care in a Lighthouse

home. Continued services may be available by contract following the child's departure from therapeutic

care.

A True Treatment Model

Lighthouse Family Network is acutely aware of the depth of pain the children we serve have suffered. We

recognize children come to us because they are emotionally disturbed and need treatment. Everything we do

with children is in some way impacted by that child's specific treatment needs. Lighthouse Family Network is

set up on a Residential Treatment Model. The primary difference between Lighthouse and a Residential

Treatment Center (RTC) is our residential component is comprised of family or group homes.

Treatment in Lighthouse Family Network is a team effort involving Lighthouse Family Network staff (including

case managers, therapist, Clinical Director, etc.), foster parents, the managing conservator, the child (if age

appropriate) and any other participants, including biological parents, whom the managing conservator feels

needs to input and participate in the planning and treatment process. Treatment is considered in every area

of the child's life whether home, work, play or school. Quarterly Service Plans (at a minimum) are developed

and the entire team cooperates in implementing the plan. Lighthouse Family Network is proud of its record in

improving the quality of life, coping and social skills for the children we serve.

In addition to staff and contract therapists, Lighthouse Family Network consults regularly with Licensed

Psychologists and Child Psychiatrists specializing in serving our population. Lighthouse Family Network is

known for its pro-active posture in treating emotionally disturbed children.

Comprehensive Case Management

Each child placed with Lighthouse Family Network is assigned to a Case Manager who coordinates services

to the child and his family. Case Managers provide support and direction while insuring progress of the child's

Individualized Service Plan (ISP). The Case Manager visits at least twice a month with each therapeutic child

and is available to the child and/or family as needs arise. Case Managers have a minimum of a Bachelor's

Degree in Social Work or a related field and work under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Lighthouse Family Network Treatment system is designed for Case Managers to carry 15 - 18 children on their

caseload.

Flexibility

One of the great advantages of using the Lighthouse Family Network for the treatment of Basic, Moderate, and

Specialized children is its flexibility. Homes can be found that meet the needs of the child rather than

conforming the child to the program. Group and family homes are available within the Lighthouse system.

As children are placed with Lighthouse, not in a specific home, transitions can be made within the system

should the needs of the child may change.

Careful Screening/Long Term Commitment

Treatment Foster Care is not the right choice for every child. As a small agency looking to give quality care to

the children, LFN may not have the appropriate home for every child. Children referred to Lighthouse Family

Network have usually met with enough perceived rejection and failure in their life. Lighthouse Family Network

works hard to make only appropriate placements of children in homes where placement can be sustained

and maintained. Placements are made with a strong commitment to "the best interest of the child."

We at Lighthouse Family Network are pleased you are considering Treatment (Therapeutic) Foster Care. Not

everyone who decides to do Treatment Foster Care is right for Lighthouse Family Network, nor is LFN right for

every family. We ask you to consider carefully (and prayerfully) the opportunity to foster through Lighthouse,

attend an orientation and/or pre-service training. Visit with some of our families, and then make up your mind.

Whatever decision you make about an agency, we are excited about your decision to foster. You are

embarking on what will be one of the great adventures of your life.

Plant a seed. Foster a child.

Lighthouse Family Network

Call us at 1-888-908-1212!

E-Mail Billy Bob Cox

Primary Funding For
Lighthouse Family Network Foster Care Services
Comes Through a Purchase of Service Contract With
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Lighthouse Family Network is a Licensed Child Placing Agency

and is non-profit 501(c)3 agency.