Programs
Our Programs to Help Adoptive and Foster Families
The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families (STC) provides a variety of services to foster and adoptive families across Hillsborough County each year. Services include:
- Information and Referral for all adoptive families
- Case Management to post-adoptive families through the Family Forward Program
- Staff-directed Adoptive Parents’ Support Group for pre- and post-adoptive parents
- Family-directed support groups, Check-in & Chat and Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Talk for pre-and post-adoptive parents
- Forever Friends Kids’ Club for post-adoptive children (ages 5-10) and their siblings
- Tween Squad for post-adoptive youth (ages 11-15) and their siblings
- Teen Scene therapeutic support group for post-adoptive teens (ages 16-17)
- Training opportunities for all adoptive parents
- Respite activities during school breaks for post-adoptive children and teens
- Advocacy for all adoptive families
All services are delivered by trained personnel who are competent in adoption matters, with skills and experience identifying and responding to the unique needs of adoptive and foster families and children. All services are provided free-of-charge to families.
Information and Referral
Staff at The Sylvia Thomas Center are knowledgeable of community resources and events. Families are encouraged to call STC to link to other programs that may be available to address family needs. STC proactively encourages all family support services, community members, families and friends to refer adoptive families to the Sylvia Thomas Center that are interested in our program, need help, want more information or want phone support.
Case Management – Family Forward
The Sylvia Thomas Center provides case management services to post-adoptive families experiencing challenges in their homes. Case management is provided for approximately 6-9 months to help enhance attachment, stabilize behavior, improve interaction and communication, and/or prevent out of home placement. This is a family-centered program where parents are provided with the tools they need to parent their child. Referrals are typically self-initiated by parents who call STC and complete a telephone intake that is followed by a home visit to conduct an assessment of needs. All services are provided in the family home or in a location they select and are free-of-charge to the family.
Support Groups
Support, in various forms, has long been identified as key to the successful maintenance of adoptions. Support groups at the Sylvia Thomas Center allow opportunities for parents, teens and children to share their experiences with others who experienced similar circumstances. They create opportunities for mutual support and resource exchange.
Adoptive Parents’ Support Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. This is a psycho-educational group meeting with a topic and a speaker each month. We share info about trauma and attachment, self-regulation, etc. This group includes child care and light refreshments. Currently on hiatus.
Check-in & Chat meets VIRTUALLY the 1st Wednesday of each month from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. This is a drop-in group where parents share and connect to form informal networks and friendship with other adoptive parents. The parents lead and determine the topic(s) of discussion.
Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Talk meets VIRTUALLY the 3rd Thursday of each month from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. This is a drop-in group where parents share and connect to form informal networks and friendship with other adoptive parents. The parents lead and determine the topic(s) of discussion.
Forever Friends Kids Club, Tween Squad and Teen Scene typically occur on either the 3rd or 4th Thursday of each month, 6:00 – 7:30 (Keep an eye on the Newlsetter and website calendar). We have three groups divided by age: Forever Friends (ages 5-10), Tween Squad (ages 11-15) and Teen Scene (ages 16-17). These groups include discussion and interactive crafts, games that focus on building trust, integrity, friendship, etc. We also serve pizza and a light snack.
Training
The Sylvia Thomas Center is prepared to provide training to foster and adoptive parents as well as to the professional community upon request. The monthly Adoptive Parents’ Support group includes psychoeducational trainings on various topics including adoption benefits, working with schools, suicide awareness, residential treatment needs, the power of play, alternatives to corporal punishment, and various other topics. Additionally, STC will alert foster and adoptive parents to other training opportunities available in the community.
Respite Activities
The Sylvia Thomas Center hosts Respite Activity Days for children and teens during some school holidays – Super Spring Break Away, Summer Respite Activity Days, and Thanks for Giving Respite Day. These activities typically run six to eight hours in length and provide parents with an opportunity to experience a brief respite and allows opportunities for youth to engage in activities with other adoptive youth.
Advocacy
The Sylvia Thomas Center provides advocacy to pre- and post-adoptive families. STC staff can be made available to attend meetings and appointments with the parents for the benefit and protection of the child. Staff can assist by attending pre-adoptive disclosure meetings, IEP and other school meetings, court hearings, etc. to help better understand the needs of the child and render professional recommendations.