Continuum of Care

CONTINUUM OF CARE

Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families in Black Mountain, NC, serves abused, abandoned and neglected children from throughout Western North Carolina. The Home has recently expanded its existing residential care services to also include family foster care, transitional living for teens, a program for homeless teens and independent living for youth pursuing an education beyond high school.

The Home has been in operation for more than 100 years, fulfilling its mission to "Glorify God by caring for children and families." We accomplish this by providing care and support for children who have been removed from their homes by the family courts because it is unsafe or unhealthy for them to remain with their families. This may be due to repeated incidents of abuse, neglect or outright abandonment. Many of our children have undergone multiple failed placements in group, foster care or adoptive homes leaving them feeling disconnected from society and "the system" that is in control of their lives.

The Home's existing residential care program can currently provide care for up to 33 children ages five through seniors in high school who live in one of four cottages on our 90-acrea campus. Three cottages are staffed by two married house parent couples who provide care on alternating weeks. Children attend public schools, participate in extra-curricular activities, attend church, go on vacation with their Home family, have chores and generally live as normal a life as possible. The fourth cottage is for homeless youth and young men ready to step up to a higher level of responsibility. It is staffed by two male Transitional Living Coordinators who alternate weeks.

Staff at Black Mountain Home look at these children as being "at promise" rather than "at risk" and work hard to help each child fulfill that promise. In addition to house parents, staff includes an education coordinator to help those who are behind in school; a recreation coordinator to keep the children active and positively engaged; social workers who oversee case plans and make sure youth receive the help they need; and support staff who keep the office running, the campus neat and tidy and the bills paid.

Foster Care: While BMH is currently in the unique position of being able to place sibling groups together in the same cottage, if a sibling is under the age of five, they must be placed elsewhere. Adding local foster care families to our program will allow us to place sibling groups together with an individual family. It will also allow us to transition children from group residential care to an individual foster home more easily. While living with a BMH foster family, children can continue to be involved in campus activities and take advantage of our study hall and tutoring program. The foster family can also look to Black Mountain Home staff for assistance with difficulties and respite from the demands of foster parenting.

Transitional Living: Teenagers in foster care often have a history of multiple failed placements with foster and/or adoptive families. They bring a variety of issues to residential care that are often best taught to in a same-sex, similar age environment. The Transitional Living Program teaches skills such as budgeting, cooking and nutrition, household management, vocational skills, decision-making and personal care for youth approximately 14 years old and up. Within the positive peer culture created by the program and with the guidance of caring and skilled adults, youth can better understand their choices and learn to map their future, laying the groundwork for positive and productive lives. Upon turning 18, young adults in the Transitional Living Program can elect to sign themselves out of care or take the next step by entering the Home's Independent Living Program.

Independent Living: The Child Welfare League of America reports that each year an estimated 20,000 young adults "age out" of the U.S. foster care system. In past years, within 12-18 months of discharge 84% of youth had become a parent; 51% were unemployed; 25% had been homeless; and just 2% had obtained a Bachelor's degree. In 2008, Black Mountain Home began offering youth who have earned a high school diploma or GED the option of remaining in care while furthering their education. The Independent Living program provides housing and assistance to youth while they pursue a higher education-whether in a college, university, technical school or vocational setting. Youth remain in contact with the adults who form their support system while serving as mentors and role models to younger children in care.