You Can Make a Difference by Supporting Children with Advanced Needs

At Wellpoint Care Network, our mission is to facilitate equity, learning, healing and wellness by restoring the connections that help children and families thrive. We use a trauma-informed approach to create healing and to build pillars of stability.

We know that children in Foster Care likely have experienced some form of trauma in their lives. And children who have been exposed to significant trauma often need additional support to address their specific needs and behaviors. These children may also have advanced medical needs, mental health diagnoses or cognitive delays or disorders that require training and supportive services that go beyond General Foster Care. That additional support is known as Treatment Foster Care.

“If you’re a caregiver that has a child with high needs, we’ve got our Treatment Foster Care (TFC) program where we’re bringing in our skilled TFC specialists who can provide weekly contact with families,” said Nicole Ruder Johnson, Wellpoint Care Network Treatment Foster Care Program Manager. “If you’re struggling with children who have more than average needs, they can help provide training, more frequent check-ins, respite, all kinds of manner of interventions and support.”

There are different levels of Treatment Foster Care. Level 5 is Exceptional Foster Care for children with a combination of advanced physical, mental, medical, intellectual or emotional needs who may require round-the-clock care.

“Level 5 is the highest level of needs,” said Nicole Schroeder, Wellpoint Care Network Level 5 TFC specialist. “For example, I have a child that’s medically fragile — they have a traumatic brain injury. I have a couple kids who have autism and are non-verbal, and others who have significant trauma.”

Because of the more intensive level of care needed for these children, Level 5 TFC specialists have a smaller caseload than traditional case managers in order to better focus on their individual needs.

“You have five kids maximum; it does not go over that,” added Schroeder. “So, for me currently, I have four homes and five kids. I think that’s important because you’re coordinating with everyone on their team — foster parents, teachers, counselors, etc. It allows you to check in frequently with the children and see how they are doing and also make sure they are meeting their goals.”

Schroeder says one of her favorite parts of the role is the hybrid model, allowing her to set days working in the community, in the office or at home.

“At least once a week, I’m in homes talking to foster parents and kids, getting updates and making sure they have what they need. The rest of the week I’m at home doing treatment plans, clinical progress notes, incident reports; just staying on top of the kids’ care.”

“We also meet monthly with the TFC team and Level 5 team in-person,” Schroeder adds. “Those are very beneficial because it allows you to connect with your team members and ask questions. If you ever need support on a treatment plan or maybe coming up with a goal for one of your kids, everyone is always willing to step in and help.”

The physical, behavioral and emotional needs of children and teens in foster care can range from moderate to complex. That’s why all of Wellpoint Care Network’s staff are trained in Trauma Informed Care practices to mitigate the effects of trauma so that children can heal and thrive.

“It’s great because if you are newer to this work and thinking, ‘What is Trauma Informed Care and how can I implement it?,’ there are so many people who can guide you in the right direction and give you that support that you need,” said Schroeder. “I will say out of all my career experience, I feel like Wellpoint Care is very good at making sure that everyone is on top of what they’re doing, that their training is completed and making sure that you feel that you have the tools necessary to succeed in this field.”

Wellpoint Care Network is currently hiring Level 5 TFC specialists in Milwaukee and Dane County. Schroeder encourages anyone interested to join this dedicated team.

“If you have a strong background in social work, trauma or working with kids with disabilities, then this is a great role for you. But even if you’re limited in those experiences, there’s always an opportunity to learn and grow. It can feel like a lot because the children you are working with are higher needs, but the amount of support that I have been given is amazing.”

For Schroeder and many others in this field, it’s the passion and pride in your work that keeps you motivated; knowing that what you do matters.

“I always make sure that I build a rapport with all the children I work with,” adds Schroeder. “I want them to feel comfortable with me and be able to open up to me. This way I can be there in times of crisis, but also when they just need someone to sit in silence with them. A lot of people don’t realize that these kids don’t always have the people that they want in their lives. Sometimes their biological parents or guardians are not as involved as they wish they were. So having someone that they can rely on and that they know is there to support them makes a huge difference.”

Make a difference in your community and learn more about becoming a Level 5 TFC specialist in Milwaukee or Dane County.