AFS Mental Health Services
All children and youth served by Alternative Family Services are learning how to cope with the events that precipitated their coming into foster care. Every foster child endures a different level of personal grief and trauma with the loss caused by the separation from their family. AFS family therapists provide two forms of mental health services to foster youth and families:
AFS specializes in providing mental health services in the foster care environment. Often services take place in the foster home or at a convenient location in the community. The services are coordinated, integrated and customized to best address client needs.
- 175 foster children, youth and families received AFS mental health services
- 10 years old was the average age of the children in treatment
- 75% of clients successfully met treatment goals at the time of discharge
The most prevalent mental health conditions treated by AFS mental health practitioners include:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Abuse related trauma
- Disruptive disorders (e.g. Attention Deficit Disorder)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Developmental delays
- Disrupted family relationships
