Community

• Family Support Team
• Foster Care
• Intensive Family Preservation Program
• Training
• Wildlife Rehabilitation/Nature Resources
• Community Meeting & Conference Facilities

Educational

• Experiential Education
• Special Education

Residential

• Group Homes
• Residential Treatment
• Safe Homes
• Shelter Services

Community

Intensive Family Preservation Program

What is Waterford Country School’s Intensive Family Preservation Program?

Waterford Country School’s Intensive Family Preservation program (IFP) is an outreach program designed to prevent out-of-home placements for children, to support families during reunification and to improve the safety and well-being of children and families residing in New London County.

Who is Eligible for Services under the Intensive Family Preservation Program?

Waterford Country School’s IFP program serves families in New London County.  Families are selected to participate in the three to four month program by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).  Each family must have at least one child at risk of out of home placement, have children who have recently returned home, or have children who are expected to go home within a short time. 

While other factors are considered, the families selected for the IFP program may be struggling with inadequate parenting skills, mental health issues, or substance abuse problems.  Furthermore, it must be determined that the safety and well-being of the children staying in the home is not in jeopardy. 

What Services Does the Intensive Family Preservation Program Provide?

The IFP program follows the successful and nationally utilized “Home Builders” family preservation model.  Its major goals are to enhance parents’ ability to created safe, stable and nurturing home environments, using a network of community-based resources, as well as to ensure prompt services for families in need of assistance. 

Additional Services Include:

• Development of a service plan to help families identify and address problems
• Teaching and empowerment of families to resolve problems
• Linking of families with appropriate community resources
• Parenting and child development education
• Advocacy
• Crisis intervention
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Home maintenance skills
• Assistance in building support networks
• Bilingual support
  

What Special Training Do the Intensive Family Preservation Staff Have?

Waterford Country School’s IFP team members have extensive experience, advanced education and certification in working with families.  Staff are trained to administer the GAIN-Quick assessment at the beginning of services. They also receive intensive pre-service training at the Rutgers University Family Preservation Institute in New Brunswick, NJ.

For More Information:

Waterford Country School
Intensive Family Preservation Program
2 Clinic Drive, Norwich, CT  06360
P: 860-886-7500
F: 860-886-0500
info@waterfordcs.org