
A Home Within
Model & Strategy
A Home Within seeks to heal the trauma of chronic loss experienced by foster children and to improve the foster care system by providing consistent support through professional therapy services. Under the guidance of senior clinicians, licensed mental health providers in the private sector volunteer to see one child in weekly psychotherapy until the treatment comes to a natural close.
The network of clinicians in A Home Within helps youth to break the cycle of childhood trauma. In addition to promoting direct services, A Home Within fulfills its mission through professional training programs, public awareness campaigns and advocacy. The therapy provided to this vulnerable population is often a transformative experience that reduces anxiety, stress, dissociate states and many other symptoms—ultimately enabling foster children to become healthy, productive members of their communities.



Dr. Toni Heineman is the founder of A Home Within, the only national organization focused exclusively on the emotional well-being of foster youth. She is Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco in Psychiatry and has been in private practice in San Francisco, working with adults, children, and families for over 30 years.
Toni is the author of several articles focused on psychotherapy with children and has made numerous presentations to lay and professional audiences about the mental health issues facing children and parents. She is author of An Abused Child: Psychodynamic Understanding and Treatment and Relational Treatment of Trauma: Stories of Loss and Hope. She is co-editor of Building A Home Within: Meeting the Emotional Needs of Children and Youth in Foster Care, and Treating Trauma: Relationship-Based Psychotherapy with Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.
Reed Connell joined A Home Within as Executive Director in 2020. Reed has 20 years of experience in foster care, mental health, housing, and special education settings, and has worked with a range of organizations on resource, program, and capacity development. He is the co-founder of Social Change Partners, LLC, which supports nonprofits and government in meeting the needs of children and families.
IMPACT
A Home Within envisions a world in which foster children are counted among those who have at least one stable, consistent adult who loves and cares for them.
More than 1,800 therapists have already worked with over 1,500 children, teens, and young adults and A Home Within clinical volunteers provide approximately 16,000 hours of therapy per year to this highly vulnerable population.
A Home Within also has an online Education & Training program to reach non-clinicians in the foster care system, schools, family courts, and families. The program offers trainings and tools to help understand the impact of early trauma and implement relationship-based practices to deliver trauma-informed care.
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I just uploaded “A Home Within Volunteer Info Session - 1/27/23” to #Vimeo: https://t.co/6Y5gJpGuPr
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I just uploaded “What is A Home Within?” to #Vimeo: https://t.co/T7pdc74d5x
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Art by Poe the Creator, avant-garde illustrative mixed media and sculptural artist whose personal work questions th… https://t.co/WyzwYwv50C
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1 week reminder! Head to our website to register for our event with Dr. Smedley next week: https://t.co/EovNAlsxA9
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Head to our website to register for our August CE events! https://t.co/EovNAlsxA9 #TherapistsConnect… https://t.co/lwcahk6eI7
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Are you a therapist in the SLO area ready to commit to making a difference through volunteering? If you or anyone… https://t.co/2PB3IBPawm
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Ashley Calderon's story that she shared in @TheImprintNews is inspiring us this Friday afternoon. Read the full art… https://t.co/8SWRujkfnu
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Join us for our next community workshop! We'll be hearing from Sean Hughes on Implications of Child Welfare Service… https://t.co/b7MC6fmCUg
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Looking for a graphic illustrator w/ experience of foster care to create a few designs! Interested? Email chrissy@a… https://t.co/rlm4BFoKiY
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We're excited to learn more from Dr. Boss about this article's themes at our CE event on 5/23.… https://t.co/xySyhKEZv1
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We're overwhelmed w/ gratitude for all of our incredible volunteers. Eileen Keller has been w/ AHW for an inspiring… https://t.co/nYJbmh3bWH
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It's National Foster Care Month, & volunteering with A Home Within offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact… https://t.co/UEjZY2YLk0
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We're thrilled to announce our CE event w/ Drs. Pauline Boss and Monique Mitchell! Register here:… https://t.co/2DbKRkD72V
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If you haven’t donated to @AnthonyPicoCA’s campaign, there’s still time! To all who have, we’re so grateful! With y… https://t.co/sydLYCkIf0
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Happy Birthday, Anthony! Help us meet our goal to clear the waitlist for @AnthonyPicoCA's birthday! #ahomewithin… https://t.co/f2bbibZzaL
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🎊🎁🎉🎈🎂 It's birthday month at A Home Within!!! 🎊🎁🎉🎈🎂 Join us in wishing our incredible ED, Reed, a very happy birthd… https://t.co/A2zpgIVatv
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🎊 Have you celebrated @AnthonyPicoCA's birthday with us yet? 🎊 Check out how you can help us #clearthewaitlist here… https://t.co/24XGZSjG7r
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📣 Attention! 📣 Our next no-commitment info session is on 4/14 at 11:30am PT. Get your AHW questions answered. Email… https://t.co/lXgkgDnTxi
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Excited to repost the new fund thru @JBAforYouth that provides direct assistance to youth who've been homeless/in f… https://t.co/88mfMKNpXo