The Child and Family team meetings are an important part of the process of growth in the life of the family as well as the child or adolescent involved with Bergen's Promise who have serious behavioral and emotional challenges.

Once the team is chosen, The Care Manager from Bergen's Promise helps to provide the structure and organization for the initial series of Child and Family team meetings.

At the center of every decision is the child, his or her family and members of his or her Child and Family team

Family Vision

"What is your vision of what you would like to see happen in the next six months or year for your family?"

This is asked of the child or adolescent and members of the Child and Family team at their first meeting.

The answer to this question helps form a plan (called the Individual Service Plan) based on the strengths, interests and needs assessed in the child and family. It is discussed with, agreed to and signed by all present at the first Child and Family team meeting and is updated as time goes on.

The members of the team:

• Help the family make decisions on the services and supports needed
• Help empower family members as they learn how to help themselves
• Help the child remain within his/her family and the community
• Agree to do what ever it takes to help the family meet its vision

Sometimes the family, having been through so much, can only say that their vision is to "have a good time together as a family."

From a Mom:

"As a family we felt battered because of the behavior of our son. What was key was the initial support of our smiling Care Manager who helped us eventually grow to learn how to be a 'normal' family. The process of the Child and Family team helped us feel strong."

From a child that had no family, but expressed her vision and need to her Child and Family team consisting of her Division of Youth & Family Services worker, her therapist and her Care Manager from Bergen's Promise:

"I want a family."