Pathway Caring for Children

“The members of the Finance Committee review the Form 990 before it is filed.”

“The policy is reviewed with members on an annual basis.”

“Members of the Executive Committee review the performance of the Executive Director and other top management officials and compare their salaries with independent standards and recommend compensation adjustments based on these criteria.”

“All governing documents, policies, and financial statements are made available upon request.”

“The Pathway Family Services Program includes adoption, post adoption and birth family services. Our basic philosophy includes: All Children Deserve A Permanent Home We Help Families Stay Together Children Need a Family For A LifetimeAdoption ServicesPathway Adoption Services include work toward finding and securing a family for children who are in need of a permanent home. Families interested in adoption can work with Pathway to find a special needs child to join their family through foster to adopt and waiting family options. Our adoption department works with the prospective adoptive family by preparing them emotionally for this lifelong process and completing the court paperwork for finalization through home visits and special training for the parents. Pathway takes referrals from the court for step-parent adoptions, as well. Post Adoption and Kinship ServicesThese services seek to address the ongoing needs of adoptive families after finalization and kinship families when relatives serve as parents for children. There are four basic programs included:1. Respite includes four hours to two weeks of care in a licensed foster home or one on one hourly time with a staff person. Adoptive and kinship families need support and relief to provide for the ongoing care of special needs children.2. Support groups for adoptive and kinship families include:a. Connected Family Group that provides therapy groups for children while their parents meet for support and education meeting biweekly during the school year.b. Adoptive Mothers Breakfast Group which meets monthly at a local restaurant for moms to benefit from the connections with those who understand and learn about resources and strategies unique to adoptive/kinship childrens needs.c. Adoptive Dads Group which meets monthly at Pathway office to help adoptive dads get the support and education for their unique position in their family.d. Grandparents Group which meets monthly in a downtown Canton church for support for grandparents raising their grandchildren.e. Adoptive and Kinship Parents Support Group which meets monthly in Minerva for support and education at a church in Minerva with food and childcare provided.3. Parallel Parent Program involves, in extreme cases, a therapeutic foster home placement for an adoptive child while adoptive parents keep custody, are involved in therapy, visitation plan and monthly team meetings to work on returning the child to the adoptive family successfully. 4. Mental health services are offered with specific sensitivity to adoptive families including individual, group and family counseling, case management including parenting coaching.Birth Family ServicesRespite and Parallel Parent services are offered to birth families in the community.”

“Pathway Caring for Children is a private, non-profit social service agency. Its mission is to empower children and families to realize their potential and achieve the possibilities of their lives through innovative mental health, foster care, and adoption services. Its vision is to provide compassionate care for children and families. The staff members, volunteers, and foster parents of Pathway seek to carry out seven basic ideals with the youth who come to us. Most important, we love and care for each youth individually. We recognize them as persons and teach them to respect themselves and others; provide them with the security of knowing that we are there for them; help them find the paths of success in school, work and social relationships; encourage them in the assumption of responsibility for themselves and their actions; and become personally involved with them in their struggle for meaning and purpose in life.”