Explore your options with Lakeview Center
Specialized Therapeutic Foster Care (Level IV License)

Becoming a Specialized Therapeutic Foster Parent means joining a compassionate community that provides love, structure and care for children with unique needs. Highly trained behavioral health team members at Lakeview Center help match interested foster parents with children based on their individual needs.

Who can be a foster parent
• 21 years of age or older
• Can be single, married or in a committed relationship
• Have sufficient income to support your household
• Complete 30 hours of free Quality Parent Training (and program-specific training)

Open your heart. Change a life.
CHIPS is a Medicaid-funded program that provides therapeutic foster care for children with emotional and behavioral challenges. This program also helps to address neurodevelopmental concerns, including autism and communication difficulties.

What to expect as a CHIPS foster parent:
• Provide a safe, nurturing home for 9 to 12 months
• Partner with a dedicated clinical team to support the child’s growth
• Weekly home visits from clinical staff
• Attend monthly meetings to discuss progress and treatment goals
• Receive specialized training, guidance and paid respite days

Support services include:
• Weekly, person-centered therapy for the child
• Weekly support for foster parents from a mental health professional to coordinate implementation of treatment strategies
• Additional monthly stipend based on the child’s level of need
• Special foster family support activities and events
• 24/7 on-call support from a mental health professional

Ready to make a difference?
Contact Marie Johnson, Foster Parent Retention Coordinator
850-417-3265
[email protected]

You may picture foster care as tending to children and teens who have been abused or neglected. But foster care is also a solution for adults – especially those with developmental disabilities or other special needs.

What is adult foster care?

Adult foster care is a form of long-term care where adults reside in private homes and are assisted and trained to be as independent as possible. Performing their daily living skills such as bathing, dressing and medication management, with as much assistance as needed from the foster parents. Adult foster care homes also provide the residents help with doing household chores, preparing meals and attending medical appointments. Our foster homes for adults provide a family-like environment while including those served in household events and helping them participate in community events.   Most of these individuals attend a day program or work during the day.  The goal is to provide a home-like environment with social stimulation and daily care so that adults with disabilities can maintain some independence and autonomy over their lives.

To be designated as an adult foster home, the home setting must be licensed by the state, and the level of care provided can vary based on the needs of the person served. Lakeview Center’s adult foster care homes are licensed through the Florida Department of Children and Families.

To learn more about becoming an adult foster parent, please call Lakeview Center’s Special Populations Network team at 850-495-5566.