"The Light House Village enables the Dream House organization to demonstrate a unique program that will provide the support services necessary to successfully transition a medically fragile child from the hospital to a well prepared, accessible permanent home and family. There is no other program like this in the nation and we hope this model will some day benefit thousands of very deserving children."
Laura O. Moore, RN, MN
Founder and President
The goal of the Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. is to increase the opportunities for medically fragile children to live in a stable, permanent home environment through the development of support resources and programs which increase the number of families and communities prepared to care for them. The mission is four-fold: to provide educational programs and unique teaching environments for families and care givers; to assist in the development of specially equipped and accessible homes; to increase community awareness about the lives and needs of medically fragile children; and to create opportunities for community and corporate partnerships focused on improving the quality of life for medically fragile children.
Dream House for Medically Fragile Children serves Georgia's children who are dependent upon medical technology each day to survive. A medically fragile child is any child, who because of an accident, illness, congenital disorder, abuse or neglect has been left in a stable condition but dependent on life sustaining medications, treatments, equipment and the need for assistance with activities for daily living. In addition to supporting caregivers in need of support, referrals and training tools to offer the best possible care for their fragile children, Dream House also advocates for the children without an adult to champion their future. The organization provides loving, family-centered support for these children to live, thrive and heal. Medically fragile children have the opportunity to experience what so many take for granted for their children- to be loved, to learn, to play and to grow.
With the opportunity to implement a one-of-a-kind model program on the Light House Village campus, Dream House will be able to dramatically reduce the number of medically fragile children in foster care, improve the quality of life for these children and their families, and save the State of Georgia, her tax payers, and healthcare institutions millions of dollars each year.
DREAM HOUSE RESOURCE CENTER
The Dream House Resource Center, a residential transition care center, will provide comprehensive, wrap-around support services families need to provide safe, effective care to give medically fragile children quality of life. Support services for medically fragile children and their families include:
- Education classes and skills lab
- Short-term & emergency placement until a more permanent foster or adoptive home can be found
- Short-term stay housing for parents while learning to care for their medically fragile biological, foster or adoptive child.
- Respite care
- Day care
SERVICE OFFERINGS
The services listed below will be provided through cooperative partnerships with Bridge Coalition member organizations and staff. (Bridge Coalition members as of September 2005: Assisting the Needs for the Disabled, The Beech Foundation, Childkind, Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, FOCUS, Foundation for Medically Fragile Children, Hope House Children's Respite Center).
Education - Educational classes and skills labs, including the Dream House "Family for Keeps" educational initiative will be provided for the recruitment and training of biological, foster and adoptive families to make sure they are adequately trained to care for the child entering their home. On-going enrichment classes and resource programs will also be offered.
Coordination of home renovation - The coordination of private home assessments and renovations will be offered to prepare the family home environment for the arrival of a special needs child.
Acquisition of medical supplies and equipment - The coordination of funding and acquisition of medical supplies and equipment will be provided to support safe and effective care in the homes.
Daycare- Specialized, on-site daycare will be staffed and equipped to support the special health care needs of medically fragile children.
Emergency and planned respite care - Out of home respite care will be available for planned, emergency and short-term stays.
Assessment and evaluation - Appropriately licensed staff and consultants will conduct holistic assessments and evaluations for each child place in a transition care home.
Transitional housing (4 units on the property of the Resource Center Campus)- The campus will contain three residential transition care homes to provide a family-centered, home environment for medically fragile foster children while they wait for a more permanent home. These homes will also provide short-stay accommodations for biological, foster and adoptive parents to reside in close proximity during the transition/training period. An fourth multipurpose housing unit will provide day care and respite care for biological, foster and adoptive medically fragile children.
