Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula Counties have announced the establishment of the brand-new Northeast Ohio Treatment Foster Care Collaborative initiative.

The initiative is aimed at developing a public treatment foster care program for children in need across the three counties and providing specialized care for children who have experienced trauma from abuse and neglect.

The initiative aims to create stable, supportive atmospheres where trained families can help children heal and foster consistency and trust.

The program offers weekly contact with a treatment team leader, as well as regular interaction with a dedicated team of providers, membership and access to resources, respite services from fellow caregivers and 24/7 access to agency staff and clinical support staff.

If you'd like to apply to be a caregiver in this program, you must have at least one year of experience as a certified caregiver.

You must also have 60 hours of relevant training, five years of cumulative experience caring for children, one year of experience with special needs children. Additionally, caregivers must actively participate in developing the treatment services for their children and meet all state licensing requirements.