“I just wanted to take the time to give the Clinical Supervisor and Therapist kudos for all their help and support with advocating for the girls! They had my back to the fullest in a really tense and rough situation! They care so much of the best interest of the girls and didn’t let me go through this alone at all! I feel very honored and privileged to work with such a strong, intelligent and caring group and team! This job has been so very rewarding for me despite all the challenges and I want to thank you for this opportunity from the bottom of my heart! It has changed my life and my heart for the better!”

“HDFS has been open to thinking outside the box and letting me take the lead on what my teenagers need. They have offered suggestions when needed but have honored our family’s ideas in a way that is rarely found in the mental health services field. Without that respect, this would have been just another obligation provided to us instead of a critical part of our team.

Behavioral respite has allowed us the freedom to accept teenagers into our home through foster care who we could not otherwise be able to accept. It has allowed us to find positive ways to engage the teenagers in the community and give them a sense of pride by providing proper supervision while they look for jobs, volunteer or engage in activities they enjoy. The teens start out afraid that we are giving them a “babysitter” and thinking they will resent it. Then, they realize that the provider can be a source of freedom and support to engage in more activities. The teens feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in what they do with their provider and naturally the negative behaviors diminish as the pride increases. It has been transformative for some of our hardest teenagers.”

“We have been doing treatment foster care for almost 10 years & it’s been very rewarding. It is such a great feeling when you see your kids start to flourish & trust again. The kids we have had & have placed in are home are so loving & in so much need of a safe environment & a loving home to work through some very traumatic experiences they have endured in their young lives. High Desert Family Services as a company has amazing core values and we are proud to say we are a part of this agency. Being a treatment foster parent can be challenging, the employees go above and beyond to make sure you have the knowledge you need to be successful with your kids & feel supported every step of the way. We have truly enjoyed working with every single one of them & are so grateful for all of them.”

“High Desert Family Services provides vision and commitment to the youth and families they serve. High Desert offers a unique and effective blend of approaches in working with youth and families. Their team works to create individualized strategies that guide the treatment process. It is through this approach that necessary development, psychosocial and independent living skills are learned. Their ultimate goal is to discharge a healthier, stronger child with more control over their behaviors and increased self-esteem. ”

“Behavioral respite has been the most amazing blessing for me and my kiddos! As a single foster/adoptive parent, childcare has been my biggest need. I never anticipated having a kiddo with behavioral needs so high that he could not attend a daycare setting or even have a typical babysitter. As parents, we sometimes need a break and our children need someone who is qualified to meet their level of needs. We need someone who has experience and knowledge and success working with children from high trauma backgrounds. Respite has helped to meet this need and has become an absolute life-changer for me and my kiddos. I am so thankful. It is something we truly couldn’t live without.”

“High Desert Family Services has changed my life in ways that have enhanced my parenting skills and gave me the confidence that I needed to become even better than I could have imagined. I can attest that the skills I have learned from Cathy and Lanecia have helped me to be a better parent so that I am ready to immerse myself in my children’s lives to increase their ability to trust adults, to help them succeed in day to day living, and for their long term goals. It is most rewarding to see the children grow and to be there to show them the love they deserve. ”

“We have worked with High Desert Family Services for about 3 1/2 years. During this time we have worked with three different therapists. All three are compassionate, loving and geared as to what is going to work best for each individual child. I can honestly say that we have learned a lot, which makes are job interesting. The monthly classes keep us fully informed on what’s going on with the company as well as in the treatment world. Classes are always interesting and very informative. Working with children that have experienced abuse, trauma and neglect is hard, at times exhausting and mostly rewarding. With the help and support of the Therapist’s, Treatment Coordinator’s, OT as well as the rest of the staff (Owner’s, Director’s etc.) we are able to help these children believe that they are most of all loved, worth saving, and deserve a safe happy life. We truly feel like an important part of the team, we are heard and our input is always considered.”

“Working for High Desert has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only have the clients and families enriched my life, but other staff, treatment parents, the management team and owners have made this work gratifying and are supportive even in difficult situations. I can say without a doubt that it is the dedicated and caring people that have made this agency a success for children and their families.”

“Our son is amazing and we love him fiercely, but sometimes you need a little time to yourself. This is because you are always going to doctor appointments, therapy, and helping him daily and there is no break some days. Knowing your child is safe and is happy with the behavioral respite person, you can have a break, which is healthier for us as parents and for him as well!”