What kinds of children are recommended to the Parent Therapist (PT) program?
Children like 11 year old Clara whose family history of drug abuse has led her down a path of self-destruction. And adolescents like 15 year old Rick, who was neglected and abused by his mother and uncle as a young boy and now uses his anger to hide his feelings of mistrust and fear. Some youth have spent months in closely supervised residential programs before coming to our program.

What is the purpose of the Parent Therapist program?
D.A. Blodgett trains people to give care and counseling to emotionally impaired children and adolescents, and delinquent youth that have not had guidance in their life. Parent Therapists provide a home setting where children can heal a little longer before going back home, moving into an adoptive home, or moving to unsupervised community life and independence.

Who makes a good Parent Therapist?
Mature adults with a special calling to work with youth, especially youth that have had challenging life experiences, make excellent Parent Therapists. Loving parents that can be consistent in both discipline and praise, and are involved in their children’s lives in sports or other extracurricular activities that help youth connect positively with their community.

How do I become a Parent Therapist?
Parent Therapists must first become licensed for foster care, a process that includes training hours required by the state and provided at D.A. Blodgett for Children. Your life history and experiences (past and present) will be assessed and your home must be clean and safe with a working phone. Once you become licensed as a foster parent, there is an additional 6 weeks of specialized training to cover topics particular to PT families.

What kinds of special training?
In addition to the foster parent licensing training, PT parents receive extra training and support in areas such as communicating effectively with teens, appropriate discipline, adolescent behavior, behavior modification and goal setting. Training is also given in topical areas such as identifying drug and alcohol abuse, working through depression and set-backs, and helping teens prepare for independence.

Is it safe to have other children in the home?
Most PT families are just that, families with children of their own, who add a foster child or two to their family. Families establish “ground rules” where everyone can learn from each other. A professional social worker will help you to assess your family and make recommendations aimed at what will bring most success to your PT child, your own children, and you! Such considerations are age, gender, and behavioral/personality characteristics of the youth needing placement. The goal is to make a good match for both the child and family.

Are Parent Therapists paid?
The State of Michigan pays PT parents enough to cover the cost of the child’s living expenses including food, shelter, and clothing. The State pays for medical care. Some families receive an additional stipend for extra tasks needed to help the child. PT families might spend some money out of their own pockets to help a child go with them on vacation, participate in sports, or buy a high school graduation gift.

If I become a Parent Therapist, how will D.A. Blodgett for Children help me succeed?
We provide you with a Social Work Therapist who stays involved with you throughout the duration of your placement - a therapist who knows your child, provides counseling, and gets to know your family, too. We provide psychiatric and medical services. We also provide ongoing trainings and PT support groups for families just like yours and have a wide network of
PT “experts.”

Does PT intervention work?
Experiencing life in a nurturing Parent Therapist home can help children and adolescents reach their goals. Some find adoptive homes, some reach adulthood and go out on their own feeling hopeful, capable and responsible for their own actions. Many keep in touch with staff and foster parents long after they leave care. Not long ago, every senior in the D.A. Blodgett Parent Therapist program graduated from high school, against
all odds.

How do I get started?
Call D.A. Blodgett for Children at
(616) 451-2021 and ask to speak with
a member of our PT staff.