The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Post-Permanency Services, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Adoptive or Subsidized Guardianship families having children in the home under age 18, who have experienced abuse and neglect in their birth homes. These children generally have Reactive Attachment Disorder as well as a multitude of other mental health issues.

Keeping the Promise is provided by The Baby Fold, not-for-profit organization affiliated with The United Methodist Church and is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Keeping the Promise is a program available to any family with a child under 18 years of age who is presenting a special challenge and joined the family through adoption or subsidized guardianship. Keeping the Promise provides mental health counseling and support to adoptive/guardianship families residing within a 15-county area in Central Illinois. In-home therapy services are provided to families on an approximately weekly basis. The program also offers weekend camp services to children ages 6-14. Camp is staffed with teacher/therapists from Baby Fold’s school for children with behavioral, emotional, learning, and pervasive developmental disabilities Group therapy is also provided as client groups/needs are identified. Often when families seek services they are contemplating dissolving their adoption or guardianship. Services are intended to provide support to keep the family intact.

• In-home individual and family therapy
• Respite weekend camp
• Support groups for parents, children, and teenagers or “Family Fun Night” activities
• Advocacy with schools and other community resources like child care, medical, educational, and psychological services
• 24-hour crisis counseling
• Resource library for families and professionals
• Referral services
• Parent training focused on developing a “therapeutic” parenting style, using Love and Logic parenting, a simple, yet highly effective paradigm when working with attachment disordered children. 

Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services was designed with a child component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Reactive Attachment Disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, Autism spectrum disorders.

Age range: 0 – 17

Developmental Delays:

This program was developed for children with developmental delays; but has not been tested for children with developmental delays.

Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Parenting an adopted child with history of abuse or neglect.

Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

From 1-3 hours per week, depending on the needs of the family.

Recommended Duration:

Up to 1 year, though sometimes the service period is shorter. After 1 year an extension from Illinois DCFS at 4 month intervals up to 2 years is required.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Adoptive Home

Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services includes a homework component:

Literature, audio CDs, journaling assignments, etc to be completed between sessions. Follow up regarding these assignments will occur in subsequent sessions.

Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Offices in a central location, equipped with computers & phones. Meeting space may need to be available at the agency, but most sessions are conducted in the clients' homes.

Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field plus 2 years post-graduate experience.

There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Jeanne Howard, Co-Director
  Illinois State University
  dept.: Center for Adoption Studies
  jhoward@ilstu.edu
  phone: (309) 438-8503
  fax: (309) 438-5880
  Campus Box 4650
  Normal, IL 61790-4650

Training is obtained:

Informal consultation. Training materials are available from the Illinois State University Center for Adoption Studies.

Number of days/hours:

Varies with program.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Keeping the Promise Adoption/Subsidized Guardian Preservation Services.