Support Services

Teen Support Group

Twice a month, all foster and fost-adopt teenagers ages 11 and over are required to attend a support group. This support group offers our teens an opportunity to understand what is happening in their lives and foster children. The teens get in touch with their feelings of grief and loss, anger, resentment, issues of loyalty, sexuality, and a whole host of feelings that they carry, displace, and internalize. The support group helps teens to recognize that they are entitled to their feelings and the appropriate way to express them.

The ultimate purpose of the teen group is to let the teens know that they are not alone; there are many children who are in the same situation and struggle to make sense out of their lives. This group is open to biological teens of our families to show them that, whether you are a foster, adopted, or birth child, as a teen you face the same obstacles, challenges, and struggles as the next adolescent. Birth children also learn more about the child welfare system and earn an appreciation for the importance of family.

The teen groups are facilitated by staff and foster and/or adoptive parents. Each session is planned based on the needs of the children with the support of the parents. The teens are proactive in setting the rules of the group and selecting topics they wish to discuss.

Children's Support Group

This group is designed for children 10 years of age and younger. The purpose of this group is to provide a "safe" place for children to express their feelings of grief and loss, adjustment to placement, attachment, multiple placements, and other relevant areas related to children in the child welfare system. Just like the teen group, this children's support group will also expose the children to various social events and activities to enhance socialization skills.

This group is facilitated by staff and foster and/or adoptive parents, who understand the issues of foster care and adoption, and its impact on children in care.

Chat & Chew for Parents

Foster and adoptive parents play a vital role in the success of transitioning children into new homes by not only understanding the issues that the children bring but also by understanding their own feelings, expectations, limitations, trigger, and levels of commitment as it relates to the children they care for.

Once a month, parents are invited to enjoy a catered breakfast as we discuss topics that families are likely to face as foster or adoptive parents. Such topics include: Parents' Expectations of Children and What You Really Get; I Never Thought I'd Feel This Way; It's About Commitment; Relationships & What Happens to Them After Becoming Foster or Adoptive Parents. These meetings afford the families to vent, learn and well as know that they are not alone throughout and after the adoption and foster care process. Whether new parents or seasoned, our families walk away from each session feeling more empowered, renewed, and, most of all, grateful for the support.

This group is open to all of our parents and prospective parents and is facilitated by Rejoice! staff. All direct care staff are expected to attend to help keep a handle on the needs of our families and children.

Independent Living

The independent living program supports teenagers who do not have permanent placement and who will have to leave the foster care system once they reach the age of 18.

Rejoice! provides them with valuable life skills which allow them to live and thrive as independent adults. Instructions include practical lessons in budgeting, employment and education opportunities, obtaining a driver's license, shopping, cooking, etc.

Individual & Family Counseling

Many of our children come into care with a history of sexual abuse, and most often the counseling services needed to help them deal with the abuse are full or not covered by medical insurance. Children with issues of attachment, separation, grief and loss, as well as other issues are hindered in the healing process due to the lack of available services that are geared toward children in the child welfare system.

Rejoice! recognizes the significance of having in-house counseling services to meet the needs of our children. There are times when families may find themselves in need of additional support after a foster or adoptive placement. We at Rejoice! hear the need (often before the family does), and are proactive in giving attention.

Counseling sessions will be held weekly or bi-monthly, depending on the assessment of the child and/or family.

Specialized Recruitment

Specialized recruitment is designed to educate, advocate, and recruit African Americans and Hispanic Americans as adoptive and foster care families. Prospective foster and adoptive families will be identified throughout Pennsylvania. Various recruitment strategies geared toward different populations will be utilized. Child specific recruitment will also identify appropriate families for children awaiting permanency.