Chelan-Douglas Regional Support Network/
Prepaid Health Plan

North Central Region Information Sheet

Mission of Children's Home Society of Washington:
"To help children thrive by building on the strengths of children, families and communities."  In the North Central Region, this mission is fulfilled through a system of wraparound, family-centered services that meet the individual needs of at-risk children and families in Chelan and Douglas Counties.

History
Children's Home Society of Washington was founded in Seattle in 1896 with its Mission of finding homes for parentless children.  The North Central Region office opened in 1955.

Specific North Central Region Programs
Mental Health Services - Children's Home Society counseling services seek to sustain and strengthen families through individual and family counseling which promotes healthy growth and development in children and increases parental effectiveness.  Mental health services are offered in a manner which is strength-based and engages children and their parents in identifying and prioritizing areas of concern and in developing solutions.  The North Central Region is a state licensed mental health provider and contracts with Chelan-Douglas Regional Support Network to provide services to children and families in the two county area.

Readiness to Learn - The Readiness to Learn Project, initiated in January 1994, spans seven school district communities and includes 11 collaborating agencies.  The Project funds four Family Services Workers who work with school personnel, students and families.  Family Service Workers help each family to identify their strengths and to design an Individual Family Plan to solve problems and access existing community services.  Readiness To Learn services are provided "barrier-free" - Family Service Workers are empowered to eliminate restrictions that could ordinarily prevent students and other family members from receiving services.

Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC) - Increase parental capability, knowledge of and confidence in child-rearing activities while enhancing the developmental progress of children through community outreach and on-site resource center.  Develop, strengthen and sustain partnerships between parents and professionals in meeting the educational needs of children and enhance the working relationships between home and school.  Through PIRC strengthen family community relationships in order to increase social support for families.

Program services include:

• Raising Children in Troubled Times - CHSW Active Parenting classes provide parents the opportunity to improve skills and develop a network of support.  Active parenting classes use videotape presentations, instruction, workbooks and group discussion.  Classes are offered throughout the year in six-week sessions.  This program is also provided in Spanish (Criando Niños en Tiempos Dificiles).

• Targeted Support for Minority and Limited-English Speaking Families

• Information and Referral

• Parenting Resource Libraries - Provides a wide range of handouts, brochures, newsletters and books, as well as a substantial amount of Adoption Resource materials.

Therapeutic Foster Care - A specialized program which recruits, trains and supports foster parents in caring for youth who are behaviorally and emotionally challenging.  Referrals come from DCFS and are approved by a multi-agency gate-keeping group, the Wraparound Intake and Review Committee.  Services for these special foster homes include intensive case management with 24-hour crisis service, regular respite care, increase compensation and extensive ongoing training.

North Central Region Service Site

Children's Home Society of Washington
1014 Walla Walla, Wenatchee, WA 98801
509-663-0034

Crisis Line - 509-662-7105 or 1-800-852-2923

Copyright © 2006 Chelan-Douglas Regional Support Network. All rights reserved.  Webmaster