Over the past decade many states have improved their relationship with foster parents. Often all of these seemingly enormous responsibility arrested on the foster parents with very little opportunity for them to speak into the system. They were seen as paid babysitting services in little more. While it is not about us or foster care rights, it is about Christ, never-the-less, it is important that we do not burn out our Foster Care homes. Having support systems and rights do ultimately help children and youth in their care.
Examples are fairly consistent, giving Foster Care parents opportunities to address needs within the court or educational systems. At the very least there is a way to document the parents input without having to go through a social worker or representative like the court appointed special advocate (CASA).
Since Foster Parents are on the front lines dealing with behavioral issues or medication and counseling needs, it only makes sense that they can speak into their observations of a child or teen’s needs. I often tell those that I’m recruiting that there’s never been a better time to be a foster parent because not only is there support there is also your voice speaking into a system that needs greater insight on dealing with real issues in real time.
Not only is it helpful for foster parents to know that they have a voice it’s also imperative that they realize that they also have a choice. I can’t begin to tell you the amount of times that a caseworker has made a foster parent believe that certain functions of the state responsibilities become the foster parents daily chore. It is important to note that every foster parent should know the boundaries and the standards of every caseworker and organization that they’re licensed through.
Asking the right questions early on can be very helpful to discover the particular responsibilities they have in managing a child and teen’s needs. Here are a few questions that I would encourage every foster parent to consider asking from their agency and caseworker:
What is expected of me?
What task should I know about before excepting a child?
What are the 3 to 5 areas that I’m not responsible for as well as what are the 3 to 5 areas that I need permission before taking action?
Do I need to provide transportation and into for needs?
Can I see court documents? Why not?
What is the plan? Will this child be reunified with their biological parents or available for adoption?
Who and how do I reach someone after business hours?
Likely these questions will begin to open up a conversation and it’s not surprising that even a case worker may not know all the answers but encourage them to seek the answer and get back with you as soon as possible. Foster Parents can and do offer tremendous insights for those who are providing support care. For example, the Education needs of a child is best observed by those they spend the most time with in the home. Or, having a perspective provided to a Judge can be incredibly helpful.
Just like any relationship it is important that there is transparency and honesty but often foster parents are asked to trust blindly which is actually makes for a very unhealthy relationship.
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