Benchmark Family Services - Somerset, KY

12/09/2025

Benchmark spotted during the 2025 Somerset Christmas Parade! 🎄🎅🎁 Spread the magic of Christmas by opening your home and becoming a foster parent!

12/02/2025

Hello everyone!
Are you curious about how you can help a child in need this holiday season?

There’s still time to register for our next live info session, happening from the comfort of your own home on Thursday, December 4th at 6 PM EST via a live Zoom event.

Come meet our team and get your questions answered about becoming a therapeutic foster care parent!

Click here to register! (We will email you the Zoom link.)
https://www.discoverbenchmarkfostercare.com/webinar-registration

12/02/2025

MARK YOUR CALENDARS‼️‼️‼️
SANTA IS COMING TO BENCHMARK🎅🎅🎅

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Benchmark!

11/25/2025

This Season, we are incredibly thankful for the foster families who selflessly open their homes and hearts to the children in care. Your compassion creates stability, builds trust and creates lasting change. Thank you all for your dedication, we could not do this with out you!🦃🍁🧡

11/24/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who donated to our food drive for God’s Food Pantry! The pantry is truly grateful for everyone’s generosity! They are still in need of food but specifically hams for the upcoming holiday, so if you’re able to give, it would be greatly appreciated. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

11/19/2025

Some very helpful tips from our friends at our Berea office!

At Benchmark Family Services, our mission is to ensure every child placed in our care experiences an environment of safety, stability, and deep respect. The journey of healing from trauma begins the moment a child feels truly seen and valued, and one of the most powerful tools we have is our language.

With our next communication tip, we want to emphasize the critical importance of eliminating degrading language from our homes and interactions.

The Impact of Language on Trauma-Informed Care
For children in foster care, words carry a disproportionate weight. Language that labels, shames, or diminishes a child's worth is not only ineffective discipline but actively re-traumatizes.

Shame Hinders Healing: Degrading labels (e.g., "bad," "lazy," "liar," "crazy") confirm a child's deepest fears about themselves and shut down their capacity to learn, regulate emotions, and trust.

Safety Through Consistency: Respectful language creates a predictable, emotionally safe environment that allows the child's nervous system to move out of survival mode and into a state where attachment and healing can occur.

A Focus on Behavior, Not Character
Our goal is always to teach and guide, not punish or degrade. We encourage all of our foster families to commit to a behavior-focused communication strategy:

Instead of Labeling the Child... Focus on the Behavior and Need...
"You are being so manipulative." "I hear that you need [attention/connection]. Let's find a time to talk about this."

"You're acting dramatic/stupid." "I can see you're struggling with this. What can we do to make it easier?"

"Why are you always messing up?" "Let's review the expectation for [chore/task] and try again."

"You're so selfish." "It looks like you need help sharing. How about we take turns with this?"

Key Principles for All Caregivers
Validate Feelings: Acknowledge the child's emotion first, even if you disagree with the behavior. ("I see you are angry," not "Don't be angry.")

Use 'I' Statements: Focus on the impact of the behavior on you or the environment, not a judgment of their character. ("I feel worried when..." or "I need the toys to be picked up now.")

Correct Privately: Address behavioral challenges one-on-one, away from others, to preserve their dignity and avoid public shame.

11/13/2025

REMINDER: 🥫

We greatly appreciate everyone who has already stopped by and donated ❤️

As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, let’s remember those who may be struggling to fill theirs. We invite you to join us in sharing the gift of food and gratitude with families in need throughout Somerset.

Please bring non-perishable food items such as
-canned vegetables
-stuffing mix
-boxed potatoes
-rice
-pasta
-peanut butter
-cereal
to help stock God’s Food Pantry shelves before the holidays.

Your kindness will help ensure that every family can enjoy a warm and nourishing Thanksgiving meal. 🧡

📍 Drop-Off Location:
Benchmark Family Services
4458 S Highway 27, Somerset, KY 42501
📧 taylor.feltner@benchmarkfs.org or chelsea.dishman@benchmarkfs.org

📍 Drop-Off Location:
Benchmark Family Services
4458 S Highway 27, Somerset, KY 42501
God’s Food Pantry
119 S Central Ave, Somerset, KY 42501
📧 gfp8560@gmail.com
📞 (606) 679-8560
This season, let’s give thanks by giving back. 🦃

11/11/2025

Today, we honor our local heroes, our veterans, who have proudly served our country and our community.❤️🤍💙

Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and dedication.
🇺🇸

Happy Veterans Day ❤️

11/06/2025

We put our detective skills to the test at The Great Escape Room in Corbin, KY, an Edgar Allan Poe themed adventure full of mystery and suspense!

We cracked the clues and escaped with 20 minutes to spare!

Such a fun team outing , highly recommend checking it out if you’re up for a challenge!

11/06/2025

Hello everyone!

Are you curious about how you can help a child in need this holiday season?

There’s still time to register for our live info session, happening from the comfort of your own home tomorrow (Thursday, November 6th) at 6 PM EST via a live Zoom event.

Come on out and meet our team, and get your questions answered about becoming a therapeutic foster care parent!

Click here to register! (We will email you the Zoom link.) https://www.discoverbenchmarkfostercare.com/webinar-registration