Bowen Center and DCS: keeping and bringing children home safely
MARSHALL COUNTY — The Bowen Center - Plymouth partners with the Department of Child Services (DCS) of Marshall and Fulton Counties to support parents in the creation of carefree childhoods for kids.
Parenting can be challenging even under the best of circumstances. While some individuals fear the stigma that can be associated with mental health awareness and support, the Bowen Center and DCS are here to help.
Whether the family is supported through
resources so that children may remain at home safely or reunified after a period of separation, the goal of the Bowen Center and DCS is keeping families together safely and ensuring every child has a carefree childhood.
Supports systems not only break the cycle of neglect and abuse in that household but will have a positive impact on generations to come.
Bowen Center Services Managers Lora Janssen and Jesseca Downs connect individuals and families who are referred to the Bowen Center to resources and services including but not limited to skills coaching, medication, parenting classes, recovery coaches, and substance use programs. The team also helps oversee that families are complying with program requirements.
Service managers provide one extra support to advocate for the children in need. That close collaboration with DCS expands further to include Skills Coaches and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Each resource adding additional layers of support for the whole family and the children.
While children are kept in the home, the service managers ensure adequate safety and that supports are in place.
According to Downs, substance abuse is often associated with abuse and neglect cases. The Bowen Center offers inpatient detox therapy in addition to other support programs. The goal is to educate parents as to why DCS had to get involved in the first place. As parents rehabilitate, they are able to reunite with their children. Even though the initial process can feel overwhelming, the long term benefits outweigh the challenge. Downs reported that most cases close successfully.
There are times when the child or children need to be removed from the home, but the goal is always reunification when safely possible. Janssen said, “DCS wants to keep the family together and wants to see them stay together. Kids do better with their own parents even when there is trauma involved. Kids are resilient. Families can get treatment. Kids are better off with their parents if we can get it to be a safe environment for them.”
Visitations for the families are facilitated using evidence based practices to increase and enhance effective communication. Some visits are observation to ensure safety. Staff supervises and they can be conducted on site at the Bowen Center or elsewhere in the community.
Visits are goal oriented and include teaching communication skills for healthy interaction. Other visits incorporate meal preparation and homework time.
Successful visitation results in increased time and frequency with gradually decreased supervision.
Additional supports services including social skills groups are available to the children who have been removed from their families for a period of time. “Kids can come here and it’s a safe environment. They learn social skills. They learn coping skills that help them manage their emotions. Kids act out when they have that kind of environment at home. They don’t know what to do with those feelings.” said Janssen. The Bowen Center also offers programming during the summer for youth and teenagers when they are out of school.
For parents who experience anxiety about reaching out for help, Downs said that education and awareness are key. Even children have been hesitant to reach out for help for fear of getting their parents “in trouble”. “Society has put a bad stigma on DCS when really we are there to help the families ensure the safety of the children and obviously prevent any further abuse of any sort.”
As counselors, therapists, coaches work with the children a connection is made, a bond forms and trust strengthen. The children are empowered to get help for themselves and their family. Downs said, “They do feel like they have a safe place to talk. They do feel like they can talk about things and past trauma or things that have happened to them where we can help.” Those issues are dealt with to heal the family.
For families outside of a need for referral but who would like to take advantage counseling opportunities, two-prepaid counseling sessions are available through Marshall County Schools for every student. Even children who have not had an adverse childhood experience (ACE) are welcome to see a counselor for a mental health wellness visit or life coaching session. Call 1-800-342-5652 to schedule a confidential appointment at any Bowen Center location.
The Bowen Center is accredited by the Join Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Licensed by the Indiana Division of Mental Health, certified by the Indiana Department of Addiction Services, Certified by Blue Cross / Blue Shield and other insurance companies, and certified by Medicare and Medicaid.
The mission of the Bowen Center is to positively impact the quality of life of those they serve by providing professional, caring, cost-effective behavioral healthcare services.