About White's

Philosophy

CEO Dee Gibson offers advice to a graduate of White's Jr/Sr High School

Program Service Philosophy and Approach to Delivering Services

The Residential Program of White’s Residential & Family Services serves youth who are in need of emotional and/or behavioral treatment that can only or would be best served in an out-of-home setting. The general goals for youth in White’s Residential Program are:

a. Emotional stability
b. Skills development
c. Improved family functioning

To achieve the above goals White’s Residential Services engages in the following interventions and program activities. The primary program intervention elements include:

1. Therapeutic milieu

Family-like living in a cottage with nurturing and teaching house parents
Myriad of opportunities for real-life activities to learn and practice skills
Multitude of positive adult role models
Beautiful relaxed setting
Consistent structure

2. On-grounds school

Accredited
Low teacher-pupil ratio
GED preparation program

3. Clinical services

Psychological and psychiatric assessment and services
Individual, group and family therapy

4. Behavior modification program

Level System with evaluations from cottage and school
Use of token economy in some cottages

5. Cognitive skills training

Integrated into core groups

6. Chapel/Spiritual Life Program

Youth-oriented activities

7. Case Management

One case manager per cottage

Creating a Change for Good

At the heart of White’s ministry is the success of children—vulnerable, scared, troubled, and wounded children. At White’s we seek, with the Lord’s guidance and involvement, to bring hope and healing into their young lives, to create a change for good.

Whether it is in caring for a four-year-old toddler who has been sexually abused, softening the heart of a defiant 14-year-old boy who is addicted to drugs, or providing compassionate care to a pregnant 16-year-old girl who has been kicked out of her home, we are committed to helping hurting youth and families.

At White’s, staff members are guided in their work by several important principles that help to create an environment where children can experience success and growth. These principles, set forth below, direct our interaction with kids, establishing a nurturing atmosphere of love, acceptance and training.

Adoption Service Philosophy

White’s Residential & Family Services, Inc. believes that children thrive and grow best in nurturing families, and they have the need for permanency in loving and safe environments. When adoption is the permanency plan, adoption with extended family, family friends, foster families, or other prepared families is preferred. We believe excellent matching of adoptive parents and children, appropriate preparation of families and children, and post adoptive support are keys to successful adoptions. We view all parties of the adoption triad—birth families, adoptive families and the children being adopted—as essential participants in the process. All services are provided with the best interest of the children as the foremost consideration coupled with respect for the personal journey that each parent and child takes during the adoption process.

Foster Care Service Philosophy

Our philosophy is rooted in four primary distinctives:

1. This is a ministry

Caring for vulnerable children and their families is without question the will of God (see Job 29:12-16, James 1:19-27). We will depend upon God’s wisdom and strength. We will strive to model Christian values and morals before the children in our care and their families. We will strive to meet the spiritual needs of children.

2. Teamwork

White’s Residential & Family Services’ approach is strengths-based and community focused, utilizing a multidisciplinary team model. Service delivery is guided by a treatment plan that is developed by the treatment team with participation by the client, foster parents and stakeholders.

3. We adhere to a family-life model

White’s believes that children heal most effectively in a loving, safe, structured environment. Our specialized foster homes receive training in effectively working with the children placed in their homes. The primary goal of all placements is to achieve permanency for all children through reunification, adoption or independent living.

4. Going the extra mile

Service delivery is characterized by a willingness to do “whatever it takes” to meet the needs of each child and family. We strive to build programs around the needs of each youth. We endeavor to be as user friendly to the placing agency as possible.

White’s Philosophy of Home-Based Services

At the center of our ministry is love for all of God’s children. We believe that children grow and develop best in a nurturing family. We provide strengths-based, family-centered services that are rooted in respect and delivered with dignity. Services are guided by a case-specific treatment plan with time limited goals, which is based on a comprehensive assessment. Outcome data is analyzed to facilitate overall program evaluation and guide program development. We strive to empower families to develop and demonstrate empathy, meet and maintain basic needs for living, manage resources, develop and maintain integrity, and understand their role in the community. To this end, partnerships are established to work toward the common goal of a healthy, functioning family.

Independent Living Service Philosophy

White’s philosophy for Independent Living services is based upon a client-centered assessment of youths’ strengths and growth areas. The program combines instructive and experiential learning opportunities for youth to encourage their skill development. Services are provided to youth in the setting in which they live and in the community as appropriate. The program strives to prepare youth to be as self-sufficient as possible while encouraging them to be contributing and collaborative members of their community.