Also known as “FPS,” this program works to reunify children and to stabilize families, preventing the placement of children in foster care.  If reunification is likely within 30 days of referral, we prepare caregivers to meet the needs of their children again.

• A single referral allows for a maximum 6 months of service.  The referral is limited in hours and regular weekly contact makes the statewide average length of service 3.5 months.
  
• Each referral includes up to $500 for concrete goods and services as approved.
  
• Transportation assistance and mileage are allowed to enhance access to community resources and follow through.
  
• All FPS referrals include a comprehensive North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS) report.  Categories include environment, parental capabilities, family interactions, family safety, child well-being, caregiver/child ambivalence and readiness for  reunification.
  
• The referring agent may request to “front load” services, providing more intensive services early on and shortening the length of the contract.  This can reduce more serious risks by increasing immediate face-to-face support .
  
• Each therapist carries a low caseload at any given time, ensuring custom-tailored services for every family.
  

Family Preservation Services Team Supervisor, Andraya McGregor can be reached at 509.768.2587

Parenting Assessment - The therapist provides an assessment of the parenting skills, home environment and/or behaviors of adults and children during an intensive observational period.  The therapist engages the children and adults minimally, initially introducing the process and helping the family to behave naturally during the observation.  The final report includes strengths, areas for growth and treatment recommendations.

Individual Therapy – Therapists provide custom tailored individual therapeutic support to assist individuals in practicing and refining new skills in coping, prioritizing, decision making, goal setting, self care and conflict resolution.  Therapists teach individuals a myriad of new skills including how to access community resources, prevent relapse, and maintain sobriety in an effort to empower caregivers to better meet their family’s needs.

Family Therapy – Each family is provided with a custom tailored therapeutic experience to assist them in achieving family goals.  Hands-on activities help build relationships between caregivers and children of all ages.  Family members learn to increase communication, resolve conflict and cooperate in fresh and healthy ways through theoretical practice and experiential opportunities.  Even those caring for infants can benefit from learning how to respond appropriately and understand their young child’s needs.  Family therapy is appropriate for families of all formations and ages.

Visitation and Transportation Services – In order to enhance our Professional Services Therapeutic sessions, we now offer pre and post session supervised visitation and transportation services.  Consistent and frequent visits are crucial in maintaining the caregiver child relationship. 

• Our visitation specialist provides and atmosphere that respectfully supports the safety and wellness of all clients while caregivers nurture children. 
• Healthy, safe family time, before and after intensive therapeutic work, ensures ample skill building time for optimum growth and progress during Family and Individual sessions. 
• We are only able to provide Visitation and Transportation Services to fully engaged clients of our Professional Services menu. 

Professional Services Team Supervisor Heidi Batt can be reached at 509.768.8815

• The intervention provides an average of 40 hours of face-to-face contact over 30 days of in home, intensive, goal-directed services and an average of $500 for concrete goods and services is available to each family, as approved
  
• All IFPS referrals include a comprehensive North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS) assessment report.  Categories include environment, parental capabilities, family interactions, family safety, child well-being, caregiver/child ambivalence and readiness for reunification.
  
• Two “booster” sessions are also available to check-in with and support families during the 6 months following completion of the 28 day intensive service.
  
• Therapists usually carry just two client families at a time, dedicating half of every work week to a single family.
  

IFPS 24 HOUR REFERRAL LINE 509.768.1132

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Get Started:

HOW TO BEGIN We accept referrals from the Washington State Department of Children and Family Services, Children’s Administration (DCFS) and the Division of Developmental Disabilities in Washington State, as well as private consumers. Referents are encouraged to call the program supervisor to confirm availability and discuss the appropriateness of the referral. Referrals are completed through a phone conversation with the program Supervisor and submission of written authorization. Amy Sheaffer, MSW, CDP, CFI Supervisor Cell 509.263.0719 amys@empoweringincservices.com Andraya McGregor, M.Ed. FPS Supervisor Cell 509.768.2587 andrayam@empoweringincservices.com Heidi Batt, MSW PSC Supervisor Cell 509.768.8815 heidib@empoweringincservices.com S. Mandy Freeman, M.Ed. IFPS Supervisor Cell 509.768.2784 mandyf@empoweringincservices.com How To Begin

What To Expect

WHAT TO EXPECT: Empowering Inc. Services takes great pride in providing the highest quality care for all families and individuals while upholding exceptional ethical standards.  We serve to secure the safety of children.  Without exception, you can expect: • Objective, behaviorally specific monthly reports, invoices and weekly updates delivered to referring agents; • Staff members who maintain extremely flexible schedules that ensure all families have access to services, and every child is seen face-to-face regularly; • Ongoing consultation to therapists, ensuring increased oversight of services and quality; • Our nationally recognized Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) trainer consults with every therapist on each family regularly, determining and guiding therapists in facilitation of specific, hands-on, parent education lessons and learning activities.  (NPP is a recognized Best Practice program.); • Numerous opportunities to participate in experiential, interactive games, projects and activities that provide family team building and fun for increased cohesion and healthy time together; • Support in learning and practicing new skill development, enhancing relationships as conflict resolution and communication skills increase.  Stress is reduced. Homes are organized.  Community services and natural supports are engaged. With conscientious therapists facilitating fun, challenging activities you will practice your new skills, increasing your ability to maintain and use them in your daily life. • Participation is voluntary.  If a family wishes to terminate services at any time, a simple request is granted immediately, with notice given by Empowering, Inc.  Services to the referring agent. • Every therapist uses a strength based, family centered approach.  Family members take part in establishing goals, while learning to advocate for themselves, access services and care for their children’s needs more fully.  Our therapists are honest about concerns, dedicated to building on strengths and above all diligent agents of child safety. Objectively, we care; • Open communication from our therapists, enhancing the myriad of possibilities for positive change and growth. Every family and individual has access to 24 hour on-call support. Services begin as early as 24 hours after we accept your referral and vary in duration based on need and program structure.  You will find more information in the service descriptions as you read.

• assess and evaluate individuals for treatment,
• provide individual and group counseling,
• facilitate behavior management improvement and
• offer consultations. 

Maintaining a close working relationship with the case or resource manager and family ensures successful treatment.  Reports are submitted in a timely fashion including your requested criteria, as agreed on. 

We provide professional assistance to families and direct service providers of Division of Developmental Disabilities clients.  Aimed at helping participants better meet the needs of the DDD client, our therapists conduct:

• Positive Behavior Support Plans,
• Functional Assessments,
• training plans,
• group & individual training services and
• consultation.

All work is custom tailored for each consumer and focused on strengths.  Building on existing assets allows the therapist to guide progress in areas of potential growth.  Ongoing collaboration with the referring case or resource manager and family ensures successful treatment.  Reports are submitted in a timely fashion including your requested criteria, as agreed on. 

Experiential, hands-on games and activities support repairing relationships as well as developing healthy ones.  Children and parents, as well as siblings, can access services together.

The Connection Place is also available for Parenting Assessments.

Private pay services ranging from $55- $225 per hour may be arranged, with payment due at the time of service.  Mileage is based on the current Federal reimbursement rate.

Special request services are priced individually, based on current market standard and nature of the service delivered.

Empowering, Inc. Services operates with a social-entrepreneurial business model; covering the costs of operations, fair employee pay and development of non-profit sister agency outreach programs with income generated by service.

• Team building workshops
• Group trainings
• Interactive game sessions for your special celebration, birthday party, staff retreat, baby shower, etc.
• Interactive presentations