Foster Care and Adoptions

Since our founding in 1981, CHRIS 180 has been a leader in advocating for and protecting the most vulnerable populations of children, with a focus on those dealing with significant trauma as a result of being placed in the foster care system. Many of the thousands of children we have served in more than four decades experienced placement after placement, constantly searching for a reunion with their family or a loving home to call their own.

CHRIS 180’s foster care and adoptions program is committed to providing a safe, stable and loving environment for children in our care, through certified foster homes with parental figures, reunification or adoption.

Grow Your Family with CHRIS 180!

The children we serve are often between the ages of 0–17 and /or part of a sibling group. Children who enter care come in a variety of ages, sizes and personalities. They may be of any ethnicity or socioeconomic status and placed individually or with their siblings. However, what they all have in common is the loss and trauma experienced by being removed from their parents’ care. Foster children may need more understanding and attention due to experiences with abuse or neglect. Generally, these children have ended up in out-of-home placement, not through any fault of their own. CHRIS 180 licenses foster, adoptive and respite parents.

Why choose us?

Trauma-Informed Approach
Our trauma-informed approach allows us to make the right match between families and children so that children can stay in the home until they are ready for reunification or adoption.

Ongoing Support
One-on-one case management and peer support is provided to build relationships, form a community of mentoring, and allow time to share with others the difficulties and successes of the process of providing a sense of permanency to a child.

Training
Pre-service and regularly scheduled monthly trainings focus on topics designed around the needs of children and families.

Are you ready to open your home to children, sibling groups and teens in need?

To schedule an orientation, please call 404-564-4728 or email FosterAndAdopt@CHRIS180.org

Learn More

Independent Living (IL) is a program for foster youth ages 18-21. It is a bridge for them to gain independence and learn the skills needed to thrive on their own. In our IL program children benefit from the following services:

• 24-hour crisis support
• Educational assistance
• Employment assistance
• Parenting skill education
• Treatment planning
• Fully furnished apartments
• Monthly food allowance
• Utility assistance
• Community integration
• Tutoring
• Transportation assistance

CHRIS 180 foster homes in group settings are dedicated to creating a fostering and therapeutic environment to treat the contemporary issues facing today’s youth. We provide a supportive home environment for youth in foster care who may have multiple challenges. Staffed by highly-trained, experienced professionals, the program currently houses young women in a neighborhood setting to provide a personalized care experience specifically tailored to their needs.

We believe in a person-focused approach, with all youth playing an integral role in the support process. Our areas of specialization include teen mental and emotional health concerns such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, social isolation, suicidal ideation, and trauma and behavioral problems, including school avoidance, self-harm and addiction issues. The program consists of an academic component and a focus on e, nutrition, exercise and wellness to treat the whole person.

To help young adults, ages 17-24, better prepare for self-sufficient lives after foster care, CHRIS 180 operates a permanent supportive housing program. Summit Trail Apartments provide supervised living for those who are experiencing homelessness, parenting at a young age or those who are leaving the juvenile justice and/or mental health systems. This supportive housing community helps young adults learn the skills necessary for productive adulthood in a safe environment.

Residents are paired with a Life Coach who uses the Transition to Independence Model to focus on:

• Employment & Career Goals
• Educational Opportunities
• Living Situations
• Personal Effectiveness & Well-Being

Community Life Functioning

The Transition to Independence Model Provides the following methods:

• Engage through Person-Centered Approach
• Tailor Services & Support to be Accessible, Coordinated, Developmentally Appropriate & Built on Strengths
• Acknowledge Personal Choice
• Ensure a Safety Net of Support
• Enhance Competencies to Assist in Self-Sufficiency

For more information about our residential and foster care programs, please email intake@CHRIS180.org.