Bakersfield.com

In 2005, Kern County’s Child Protective Services received over 15,000 referrals citing potential child abuse and neglect; and of those referrals 4,618 cases were substantiated, which indicates a child abuse rate of 20.7 per 1000 children.  The child abuse rate statewide is 11.4—Kern County is well above the state average and people in this community should be alarmed¹.  There are community organizations in Kern County dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect and there are countless ways people can engage.  For instance, Randy and Kim Martin, a couple from this community, attended a summer camp for foster children (Royal Family Kids’ Camp) and because of that experience they went on to form their own foster care agency, Covenant Community Services Inc.

Covenant Community Services Inc. (CCSI) is a non-profit, social services organization that provides therapeutic foster care, mentoring, family preservation and mental health services to foster children and their families.  CCSI was established in 2001 as a California Non-Profit Corporation and was incorporated by a group of local Christian leaders to provide strength-based, therapeutic foster care services as an alternative to group home care, shelter care, and out-of-county placements for children and teens.  CCSI applied for licensure as a Foster Family Agency (FFA) in February of 2003 and now runs the following programs: Covenant Foster Care, Jeremiah Mentoring Project, Building Blocks, Therapeutic Behavioral Services and CARE-NET.     

Covenant Foster Care (CFC) is a community-based service for seriously emotionally disturbed children. CFC recruits, trains and certifies foster families to provide service and support to children and teens from Child Protective Services. Children are placed in CFC therapeutic foster family homes when their behavior indicates that they would respond to the intimacy and support of a family relationship. Children referred to CFC have “special needs” meaning the degree of emotional behavioral disturbance rules out regular foster placement.  Foster homes seeking certification by CFC require training and on-going support to assist with handling the special needs of emotionally disturbed children.  Children served by CFC range in age from birth to 18 years with histories that include various forms of abuse, neglect and behavioral problems. 

The Jeremiah Mentoring Project (JMP) partners a foster youth with a caring adult who can provide friendship, guidance and support during the critical transition from child to adult.  Many of the youth in out-of-home care are in need of positive role models who will help them achieve their full potential. Research indicates that a majority of adults in prison have been in the foster care system.  CCSI believes that these foster youth need a stable and strong relationship with a safe adult to usher them into a successful life.  Randy Martin, CCSI’s CEO said, “We have witnessed, time and time again, that one person CAN make a difference in the life of a child.”  All mentors are non-paid volunteers who meet with their assigned mentee for 2-3 hours per week.  Mentors aim to build a positive, trusting relationship between themselves and their mentee.  Once this relationship is established, the mentor can initiate life-skills training and develop the character of each youth.  Activities range from art projects to movies to volunteer work. 

Building Blocks is a transitional living community for emancipated foster youth.  Emancipated foster youth are children in the foster care system who reached age 18 and are no longer supported by the county.  In 2006, 158 children reached age 18 and many of them had no place to live and no family to aid them².  Building Blocks is composed of six apartments and each sleeps 2 people.  The youth in residence at Building Blocks will complete an 18-month program; and upon completion, they will possess the life-skills necessary to live independently.  The youth will learn to job search, create a resume, interview, retain a job, budget, maintain and care for a home, and personal health and safety. 

Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) is available for eligible children who need short-term behavioral supports in order to maintain their current living situation, or to move from a high level of care to a lower level of care.  The mission of Covenant TBS is to provide individualized, strength based services to children at risk for psychiatric hospitalization or higher-level residential placement due to inappropriate behaviors. We fulfill the mission by providing one-on-one services to stabilize a child’s behaviors and ensure successful living for the child in their current environment. Family Support Counselors work with the children to maintain the least restrictive level of care by resolving problem behaviors and achieving short-term treatment goals.  TBS is provided in cooperation with Kern County Mental Health, Clinica Sierra Vista, and Henrietta Weill Child Guidance Clinic.