Professional Parenting is excited to offer its newest program, specializing in foster care for Adolescent Sex Offenders. This program is a unique service offering foster care to a population of youth that would otherwise be sent to a residential facility. This program offers the structure and supervision necessary to maintain safety for the community, while providing the least restrictive family environment possible.

Referrals to the program are made through one of the local mental health case management agencies. This program offers services to adolescents who have been adjudicated for various sex offenses as well as adolescents who have demonstrated sexually abusive behavior, but have not been adjudicated. Youth must be involved in outpatient treatment specifically designed for sexually abusive adolescents while living in the foster home. This program is considered a Level II residential program and can be used as the first step in treatment or as a step down program.

Youth involved in the Buncombe County Juvenile Justice system may choose to receive Sex Offender treatment through our outpatient Sex Abuse Intervention program and those not involved in the Buncombe County Juvenile Justice system will be required to obtain outpatient treatment through other providers in the community. This foster care program is funded through Medicaid and CMSED funds available for this population.

Special features of the program include:

• Specially selected and trained foster parents who are taught strategies for working with this population
• Weekly in-home visits by professional staff
• 24-hour-a-day crisis support
• Specialized respite services
• Substantial tax-exempt, monthly compensation for foster parents

To Refer a Child to the Program: We accept referrals of children 13 and up who have demonstrated sexually abusive behavior. Applicants do not need to be in the custody of DSS. For more information about the referral process, call (828) 236-2877 or e-mail lara.lenhardt@familyinnovations.org or tammy.deitz-hall@familyinnovations.org .

To Become an Adolescent Intensive Professional Parent: Contact Lara Lenhardt via e-mail at lara.lenhardt@familyinnovations.org or call (828) 236-2877.