Voices from ...

   

 

Meet Krystal Lujan, TFC Program Director for Western Plains Youth & Family Services who submitted the interview below from A. and M.

Name

Therapeutic Foster Parents: H. and K.

Agency

 Oklahoma Families First

Office Location / City

Ada

Pearls of Wisdom and Experience: A Foster Parent's Voice

What attracted you to TFC/how did you get here?

We thought we would like to work with problem teens. Once our children were grown, the director at Families First approached us about working with therapeutic foster children.

What has been your most rewarding experience as a TFC parent, either for you or your family?

It's hard to say what the most rewarding experience is because almost daily you can see the child's accomplishments and/or emotional growth and that really warms your heart. It can be a simple as getting a good grade at school or taking responsibility for ones own actions or beaming while telling you they didn't have a blow-up today.

What keeps you going in the tough moments as a TFC parent?

Seeing a child accomplish a goal and be proud of themselves no matter how large or small the accomplishment.  

If you could give one or two pieces of advice to others who are considering becoming TFC foster parents, what would that be?

Becoming a TFC parent will be one of the most stressful, most frustrating, and the most exasperating tasks you will ever take on but alas, the rewards of helping a troubled child overcome their fears, insecurity, and help them become a responsibile individual, will give your life a feeling of purpose and accomplishment that you have never felt before.

Something about you we would not know and not think to ask (optional):

(No response.) 

 

 

 

    



Facts-At-A-Glance

Facts-At-A-Glance

  • February, 2008: of the 7000+ children in foster care in Oklahoma, 1030 are TFC placements. 

  • Fourteen (14) child placing agencies serve these children across Oklahoma.

  • All TFC children have a mental health diagnosis.          

  • The largest census of TFC children are teenagers. 

  •  Average length of stay in TFC is approximately 14 months. 

  •  TFC care is less expensive than other therapeutically oriented forms of congregate care. 

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    Western Plains Youth and Family Services, Inc began operation as a “designated” not for profit youth services agency in 1978 and in 1993 added therapeutic foster care to its list of community based services. Through its therapeutic foster care program, Western Plains has been able to expand its ability to offer services to Oklahoma children, families, and youth and is able to encompass most of the state of Oklahoma with therapeutic foster care offices located in Oklahoma City, McAlester, Weatherford, and Lawton in addition to Woodward.

     

    As a member of the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services, Western Plains is governed by a local board of directors and is able to provide consistent statewide response to youth and families. As a member agency, Western Plains receives support, management, training, consultation, and technical assistance. Western Plains mirrors the Oklahoma Association for Youth Service’s dedication to providing high quality services to our state’s greatest asset- children, youth, and families.

     

    Western Plains Youth and Family Services, Inc. believes it is the right of every individual, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or socioeconomic status to have the highest quality of services available and believe that through our “mission-minded” staff we can provide these services and uphold our mission of “Helping Families, Changing Lives.” Our core values of respect for the dignity of every individual, caring compassion, and support for individuals and families, a focus on the enhancement of well-being for all individuals served, and a level of service that exceeds expectations are reflective of this mission.  We believe that this mission applies equally to services provided to children in therapeutic foster care through our diligence to assist them in overcoming difficult life challenges and teaching them to function within a family whether it is their foster family, biological family, or adoptive family and to make a positive contribution to their community, state, and nation. This is accomplished through individual, family, and group therapy.

     

    Western Plains Youth and Family Services, Inc. is also CARF accredited. This means that we have met a set of rigorous standards, that we care about delivering quality services, and that we are committed to delivering positive results. This is evident in our therapeutic foster care program through a long list of success stories (see success story on this website) that include successful step downs to a lower level of care, family reunifications, adoptions, and the ability of individuals to develop emotional stability and the skills necessary to live independently and attend college.    

     

     

     



     

    Laura Boyd

    Executive Director
    2801 Castlewood Drive
    Norman, OK 73072
    405-503-1123
    Email Me