Wheeler Clinic, Inc.
On any given day in Connecticut, there are thousands of children in foster care and more who need safe, loving homes. Wheeler Clinic’s Therapeutic Foster Care program provides 24-hour-a-day supported family homes to children and adolescents, primarily ages 6 through 17, needing a therapeutic level of foster care. The program also serves younger children as part of a sibling group and works with children over 18 years of age.
The program offers foster families training and ongoing support to help them provide a structured and nurturing environment to children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect, and who may be experiencing symptoms related to trauma, loss and other behavioral health concerns.
Services and information
- Traditional Foster Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Other
Requirements to become a foster parent
You must meet minimum requirements to provide foster care for children in Connecticut. Before you start, educate yourself and reach out to a foster care agency. Social workers recommend that you and other family members in your home feel ready before starting your foster journey. Caring for a foster child takes time, patience, and persistence.
Contact your local licensed child-placing agency or attend an orientation meeting to learn more about what fostering entails. They will inform you about foster parent requirements, common obstacles you might face, and unique challenges among foster children. All foster kids have experienced trauma. Training teaches foster parents how best to help foster children manage their feelings and feel secure.
You must meet minimum state requirements to qualify as a foster care provider in Connecticut. Foster parents must:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Offer a safe living environment
- Pass a police and FBI background check
- Maintain sufficient income to care for a family
- Complete the 10-week training program
- Provide a separate bed for the foster child
- Complete the Home Study process
- Have a clean driving record (pass a DMV check)
Kids of the same gender in a similar age range may share a bedroom.
Contact the Connecticut Department of Children and Families or a local child-placing agency for additional questions about foster parent requirements.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
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May 17, 2022
The worst care I have ever received. After being a patient for almost a year, I got fed up with my therapist at Wheeler cutting sessions short and providing the most general and condescending advice. In the midst of this, I went for neuropsych testing to help narrow down my issues and find new therapists that may actually help. Of course, they decided to put me on multiple medications. After avoiding 3 appointments with said therapist, they decided to discharge me with no notice. Funny thing is, just 4 days ago I was on the phone with multiple people from the facility setting up an appointment to get my testing results, updating my insurance, and generally in contact with the receptionists as well as an APRN for one of my doctors. No mention of being discharged by anyone (who all pull up my patient profile while talking on the phone). You think someone would have mentioned my doctors basically dropping me. Can’t get refills without doctors. They tell me I need to come into the office to get reevaluated (mind you I’m 3 days without two of my prescriptions and now live 40 minutes away) and when I get there they make me wait for a cancellation. Okay, but after 40 minutes with no updates I get tired. I don’t want their treatment, I just don’t want to continue withdrawing from the meds they put me on. Finally they get some random doctor of sorts to come talk to me and she immediately refers to me as being “difficult” up front. I ask for the reasons of my discharge and she says she doesn’t know the details of my case. So why am I talking to you when my doctor walked by TWICE not 10 minutes before she took me to a private room?? Then she informs me that all I need to do is ask for a 30 days hold over as I switch therapists. Then why am I here. Why am I being forced to wait for an appointment, why am I stuck in a room with a disgustingly unprofessional random woman. Please remember I am a 20 year old putting myself through college and trying to advocate for myself while sobbing through anxiety. This entire experience was completely traumatizing and embarrassing and these doctors should not be in practice for their lack of patient care and general empathy.
May 17, 2022
Awful place full of awful people. They were all touched as kids
May 04, 2022
ZERO STARS!! I called to make an appointment for my child only to be told they do in--takes by walk-in only! Upon arriving, I was told there were no clinicians available and there were 4 families ahead of me that had been waiting since they opened (2 hours prior). I was informed, they would start the process and we could wait our turn. We were REQUIRED to wait in the lobby for our turn. I was also told it was possible that we could wait all day and not be seen at all and have to come back the next day!! It was 10am and they closed at 3pm. We left! I went there in search of same day care for my child. I was told they were a great place! I was not allowed to leave my name and return later. How can this be a Behavioral Health Walk-In facility if they have no one to work the Walk--In?!!! Don't waste your time! Go to your closest ER or make an appointment elsewhere!
Apr 15, 2022
All inclusive, non-judgmental, friendly and efficient. They make you feel like a person not just a number. They have their pharmacy on site so no extra trips to get your meds. If you ask me they are the best clinic in Connecticut.
Dec 17, 2021
Posting 1 star because I can’t post ZERO. 100% would NOT recommend. Did not help at all, threatened DCF even though we were actively seeking help for our child. Never stepping foot in that building again.