our history

In 1983, Comprehensive Life Resources (CLR) developed the CHANCE program, a 90-day group care assessment and stabilization facility and a therapeutic foster care program that would serve as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. The unique program was supported as a partnership between the State's Division of Mental Health and Children's Administration, with the capacity to serve up to 45 foster youth on any give day. Over the last 35 years we developed many specialty programs by expanding partnership with other local foster care agencies, school districts and juvenile justice offices. We have helped close to 1,000 youth with significant mental health and behavioral challenges live successfully in the community through the following programs:

• Crisis Respite foster homes were developed for youth receiving mental health services but who were not involved with the foster care systems, providing 72 hours of respite outside of the family home. 

• Durango was developed in 2001 as a revised version of our group care program, using a foster care model.   

• Cedar House, a staff supported foster home, was created in 2006 to provide receiving and assessment services for children being placed from homes with methamphetamine labs.

• Alder House was one of three pilot sites chosen by the Children’s Administration to implement an evidence-based therapeutic foster care model for adolescents, Multidimensional Treatment Foster (MTFC).  CLR became the fastest MTFT site to receive certification.

• Aspen House was a multi-dimensional treatment foster care program that was developed for children in their latency through teenage years, the first agency in the world to implement this model for latency aged youth.

• Madrona House was designed as a developmental evaluation placement for children aged 3-12, who had experienced multiple placement disruptions and whose permanent plan was adoption. Priority was given to children who were at risk of disrupting from their current adoptive placements.

• Laurel Program was designed as an assessment and receiving care program for teens who struggled in traditional foster care, aiming to provide rapid stabilization through mental health intervention, aggressive case management, community team building and permanency planning. 

• Over the years CLR foster care programs also received grant support to work with juveniles at Remann Hall, and with infants through the University of Washington.

• In 2017 CLR received funding to expand our foster care program which allowed for a revamp and resulted in our new name, Chance 4 Children.  Our focus is on providing short term Receiving Care and therapeutic in-home and foster care services through the Behavioral Rehabilitation Services (BRS) contract. 

CLR remains passionately committed to keeping children and teens in community based placement when ever possible.  We continue to serve some the most difficult and hard to place youth in the county.  We have trained and supported the development of caring and competent foster families who have the patience and endurance to work with youth who have experienced multiple moves, behavioral issues, and emotional challenges. 

Through uniting staff and foster parents around the qualities and conditions of courage, compassion, flexibility and diversity it is our goal to serve as a leading Child Placing Agency in Pierce County, equipping youth with the skills and resources they will need to live happy and productive lives.

For more information about Chance 4 Children, check out our vision page and keep up to date with our current happenings on our Facebook page.