(WSIL) â€� Most parents will tell youÌýraising children is not easy. Being a foster or adoptive parent brings its own set of challenges. That’s why Children’s Home &ÌýAid in Herrin offers a program that can help.Ìý
"Parenting a child who’sÌýexperienced trauma is really challenging," says Melinda Squires,Ìýprogram manager at Children’s Home & Aid.
Children’s Home &ÌýAid has been around for nearly 135 years and serves 27 counties in southern Illinois.ÌýSquires says the adoption and preservation program is federally mandated. The department is funded through DCFS.Ìý
Squires isÌýadvocating for the center’s program ‘theraplayâ€� program.
"So essentially what we do is we go in and we do a lot of psychological education," she explains.
Any foster or adoptive parent can qualify.Ìý"The adoption doesn’t have to be through DCFS. It can be through the department as well as private agencies, international, and it’s completely free."
Squires says asking for help is difficult, but not accepting the free available resources is worse. She encourages adoptive and foster parents to take advantage ofÌý ±è°ù´Ç²µ°ù²¹³¾²õ.Ìý
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