Steady Roots: Thrive

Steady Roots provides placement stabilization and behavioral assessment, intervention, and support for youth at risk of losing a foster or intact placement. The program is grounded in the understanding that behavior is communication and that every behavior reflects an underlying need. Steady Roots is designed for the critical moments when challenging behaviors related to a child’s disability overwhelm caregivers and put the child’s placement at risk. Operating as a rapid‑response, referral‑based model, the program engages quickly when a placement begins to destabilize, ensuring that the support arrives before a disruption occurs. At‑risk placements are identified through key predictors such as caregiver requests, signs of caregiver burnout, escalating or unsafe behaviors, school suspensions or IEP crises, a history of prior placement disruptions, or recent major transitions. Referrals may come from DCFS caseworkers, caregivers, or partnering child welfare agencies. Once identified, program supports include a functional behavior assessment and individualized behavior support plan with crisis procedures; in‑home, parent‑mediated behavioral coaching; de‑escalation and crisis support; in‑home assistance coordination to provide a stressed caregiver with relief; and coordination with the school IEP team, psychiatry, and the broader care team. Steady Roots ensures that the placement that was on the verge of breaking becomes a stable home where a child can remain and grow.