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Baby’s Breath
program to launch
(May
2007 Issue)
By Phyllis Hanlon
When she wrote "Whose children are these?" in 1999, Teresa M. Rafferty,
Ph.D. never dreamed that her dissertation on attachment disorder
would lead to the formation of an organization that aims to maintain
healthy emotional bonds for infants and their families. But eight
years later, Baby's Breath, Inc. is finalizing plans to launch.
Fully cognizant of the dangers of placing infants and children
under the age of three in multiple foster homes, Baby's Breath seeks
to provide a stable environment as its therapeutic professionals
collaborate with Massachusetts' Department of Social Services (DSS)
and families in need. "We have developed a wraparound model that
offers a gamut of services," says Rafferty. "We are embracing the
family and working toward reconciliation and healing."
When DSS finds it necessary to remove a child from a home situation,
Baby's Breath will welcome that child, performing an in-depth pre-testing
evaluation that focuses on family/parental strengths rather than
weaknesses. Together with DSS, they will develop a plan of action
and find ways to reunite the family. "DSS writes a plan and Baby's
Breath implements it," says Rafferty.
Exemplifying an integrated system of care, Baby's Breath is affiliated
with numerous local agencies and institutions, including the Attachment
Institute of New England, the Center for Adoption Research, Worcester
Communities of Care, YOU, Inc., the Henry Lee Willis Community Center,
Children's Friend, UMass Medical Center, YMCA/YWCA and others.
In addition to focusing attention on the child, Baby's Breath staff
will address various needs as dictated by individual cases. "We'll
find housing, a car, address parenting issues, whatever it takes
to keep/promote reconciliation, foster hope and build skills," says
Anita Masterson, LICSW, a member of Baby's Breath's board of directors.
At the outset, Baby's Breath will accommodate six babies with two
"hotline" beds for emergency situations on weekends and at night.
Renting space from the Nazareth Home for Boys in Leicester, Baby's
Breath resembles a welcoming home setting including a kitchen, large
playroom, bedrooms and sitting room, where children experience routine
and familiarity that fosters emotional health. The facility also
accommodates an intake and visitation rooms, as well as a large
office from which therapeutic counselors will oversee the program.
Staff will provide progress reports to DSS every seven days. Before
discharge, Baby's Breath counselors will administer post-tests that
evaluate the preparedness of the child and family to reunite.
Rafferty asserts that "responsive attunement" is the ultimate goal
of the program. "We are looking to create a better relationship
between the parent/caregiver and child. Our motto is coordination,
cooperation and collaboration," she says. "We are helping the parents
as well as the babies."
Following discharge, Baby's Breath will continue to work with the
family in finding home-based treatment on a limited time basis.
Baby's Breath hopes to break the cycle of multiple placement in
different foster care situations, sustain consistency and save resources
for DSS. An opening date has not yet been determined.
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