The Genesis Project

PROJECT PURPOSE

Genesis operates the only Level E residential treatment facility for safe shelter, care, mental health therapy and treatment for abused and/or neglected foster children (boys ages 6-12) in the state. OKDHS entrusts these boys into our care as their behaviors and aggression have led to significant placement instability. These children require intensive care to address complex childhood trauma and help them form healthy connections. With this three-phase project, we propose to create (1) four family-style cottages for housing the children with a central dining/community center, (2) a multi-purpose building, and (3) four additional cottages to meet escalated behavioral needs evidenced by increased demand on the OKDHS Child Welfare system. Our current house is worn and outdated, and all children live together under one roof. We are moving toward becoming a best practice service model. We will create an environment, where the treatments and interventions these children receive, happen in a place that feels like ?home.? This project would further our ability to make the living spaces family-like, allowing for our qualified care team to create deeper relationships, and provide more individualized care ? key components of a trauma-informed care model ? which ultimately will support the child?s greater placement success after Genesis.

EVIDENCE

Genesis therapeutic interventions include Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and START (Systematic Training to Assist in the Recovery from Trauma). TBRI is a therapeutic treatment model for children with complex developmental trauma. START is a trauma-informed care model emphasizing physical, psychological, and emotional safety allowing survivors to rebuild a sense of empowerment. These modalities recognize the importance of individualized care and smaller settings to maximize effectiveness. OKDHS too recognizes the need to improve the quality of care in congregate care settings in support of the Family First Prevention Services Act with strategies outlined in their 5-year Title IV-E Prevention Program Plan.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

In SFY21, OKDHS had 3,461 children in out-of-home care, 92% of which were placed with families. Although use of group care is limited, there is still a critical need in Oklahoma for qualified residential treatment when a child?s behavioral and mental health needs are beyond the care a foster home can provide. Genesis provides children the stabilization that readies them for transition to permanency, family foster care, or a lower level of care. Genesis? facility enhancement and expansion will meet the increased mental health needs that have occurred because of the COVID-19 public health emergency. While reporting to group home providers this March, OKDHS indicated there is a marked increase in the number of children entering custody, most likely due to the negative stressors COVID-19 placed on families. They are experiencing increased numbers of children in need of higher levels of care like never before. Genesis? maximum capacity is currently 16 children. Most of the time the program is at full capacity and rarely has an empty bed. When a child discharges, that bed is quickly refilled. As Genesis moves through this three-phase process to enhance its service delivery model, the result will be increased capacity to serve more children.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Genesis has a Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) system in place to review and monitor identified measures of programmatic and operational performance. The PQI committee meets monthly and is responsible for PQI data collection, aggregating data, analyzing data, and informing the Board of Directors about progress. The Committee will review project performance and provide programmatic data as required. Reporting will include any notable challenges identified, strategies for improvement, and the results of those efforts. Any measures that are not on track to meet target goals will be assessed and if needed a performance improvement plan will be developed.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma