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UCP Seguin provides foster homes for children, from birth to 18 years of age, who are medically fragile or have developmental disabilities in conjunction with behavioral challenges. UCP Seguin also supports the foster child's brothers or sisters who have traditional care needs. Ages range from birth to 18 years. UCP Seguin foster parents participate in pre-licensing training and receive individualized support that is unique to UCP Seguin. This training program includes orientation to licensing standards and rules, medical and behavioral aspects of children, CPR and First Aid training, and the UCP Seguin philosophy of teamwork. Annually, each foster parent completes a program of continuing education and training annually.
Specialized Medical Foster Care
Children with special medical needs are provided a consistent, nurturing and loving environment. Some of our children have complicated medical conditions or are diagnosed with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, seizure disorder or neurological impairment.
Specialized Mental Health Foster Care
Children and adolescents (up to age 18) with mild to profound mental retardation, dual diagnoses (mental illness or serious behavior disorder and developmental disabilities) or behavior disorders are linked with supportive foster families. Foster parents are trained in child development, behavior management, alternative communication and crisis prevention in order to provide a stable home to these children. The goal of a foster parent in the Treatment Program is to establish a relationship with the child in a structured, caring environment, which promotes healing, stability and growth.
Traditional Foster Care
When biological parents are unable to deliver adequate care to their children, UCP Seguin selects and trains foster parents to provide it. The goals of UCP Seguin's Traditional Foster Care program are to assure that children are in a safe environment, and to monitor the rehabilitation and training of the biological parent so that families may be reunited.
We're With You Every Step of the Way
UCP Seguin's professional staff support team is available to you 24 hours a day, including:
Registered Nurse
Case Manager
In-Home Family Therapist
Behavior Specialist
Licensing Representative
Education Services Staff
Trained Respite Worker for assistance and relief -
Children With Medical Conditions and Disabilities:
Usually age birth through age 17
May have cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or autism
May have conditions requiring colostomy bags, or G-Tubes
May have a tracheotomy or need oxygen
May have Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia, Diabetes, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Prematurity or suffer from drug exposure
Children with Behavioral Problems and Disabilities:Usually between 10 and 16
May have profound mental retardation
May have a dual diagnosis of mental disabilities and developmental disabilities
May have sexually aggressive behavior
May have self-abusive and other behavioral disorders
May have sensori-motor challenges
Children In Wheelchairs:To accept children in wheelchairs, a foster parents must own their own home and be willing to have modifications made to make it wheelchair accessible. They may also rent an approved wheelchair accessible home. The foster parents and substitute caregivers must be able to meet lifting requirements.
What is a specialized mental health foster home?
Children and adolescents with mental retardation, dual diagnoses (mental illness and developmental disability) and behavior disorders are linked with supportive foster families. Training in child development, behavior management, alternative communication and crisis prevention help establish a relationship with the child in a structured, caring environment, promoting healing, stability and growth.
Our greatest needs:
Finding homes that are accessible to children who use wheelchairs
Finding homes for children who have behavior problems and treatment needs -
Steps to Become a Foster Parent
Attend informational meeting | Background checks | Fingerprinting
Home Study | Family Interview | Reference Checks
Provide list of three substitute care providers who meet qualifications
Five weeks of Seguin training (two days per week)
Five weeks of PRIDE training (two days per week)
Home to be in compliance with the 402 Licensing Standards
Complete drug screening
Complete Adult, Infant and Child CPR, First Aid and Crisis Prevention Intervention Training
Current medical form to be completed by physician -
Adoption Services
UCP Seguin provides a limited scope of adoption services. These services are limited to the population of minors adjudicated wards of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that are served through UCP Seguin’s foster care contracts with DCFS. Consequently, UCP Seguin does not charge any fees for adoption services.
UCP Seguin does not provide adopt-only licensing services for prospective adoptive families and does not operate a domestic or international adoption program. UCP Seguin does not initiate, coordinate nor provide adoption matching or placement services for the sole purpose of adoption. Services for biological parents are only for those parents that have involvement with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as it relates to the involuntary placement of their children in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.