THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE SHELTER CARE

Started in 2001, TASC (Therapeutic Alternative Shelter Care) is 30-90 day program that uses specially trained treatment foster parents and social workers to help troubled youth 12-21 years old and their families.

TASC currently serves Harford and Northeast Baltimore County. TASC accepts difficult to place youth that would otherwise be detained or be placed in a more restrictive level of care than needed. While most applicants are accepted into the program, a community and family safety evaluation is conducted prior to admission. To date, there have been zero incidents of family or community violence by any youth while in the program.

The ultimate goal of TASC is provide the placing jurisdiction with a recommendation of next placement for the youth. Reunification with family is the most desired outcome. To date, TASC has served 75 youths with a family reunification rate of 60%.

Treatment foster parents in the TASC Program are thought of as specially trained professional parents. TASC parents like working with teens, avoid power struggles, like helping to reunite families by communicating well with the youth's parents, and enjoy the support of a social work staff with a low caseload of two-four clients.

This low caseload allows for intensive services to the client, his or her family, and treatment foster parents. This close monitoring and daily communication help youths in TASC feel safe in a structured environment that usually helps a TASC youth to begin making good life decisions and resolve current family issues.

TASC treatment foster parents receive a competitive stipend for the intensive services provided in their homes. If you are interested in becoming a TASC treatment foster parent and you would like more information about this program, please call Lonny Samuels, LCSW-C at 410-538-3388.

Strong Families ~ Strong Communities