Foster Parent Handbook INTRODUCTION Foster Care There is always a moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in. -Graham Green Executive Office (701) 328-1814 Fax (701) 328-1545 Toll Free 1-800-472-2622 TTY (701) 328-3480 John Hoeven, Governor Carol K. Olson, Executive Director Dear Foster Parent, On behalf of the North Dakota Department of Human Services, I would like to express our gratitude for the commitment that you have made to open your home and heart to children by becoming a foster parent. During any given month in North Dakota, between 60 and 110 children are removed from their homes and placed in care. Foster parents, like you, become the primary caregivers of most of these children who range in age from infants to older teens. You are giving an incredible gift - a safe haven for children who need stability, care, compassion, and support. Many of the children placed in your care may be dealing with anger, resentment, and sadness. You will face challenges, and yet you will be forever changed by this experience. Please use the resources and supports identified in this guide and through other training opportunities to meet your needs and the needs of the children in your care. You are an important part of a network involving families, human services professionals, other foster parents, and community partners. Our goal is to nurture the children in our care so that they thrive and grow into responsible, caring adults. Thank you for your willingness to care for the children. Sincerely, Carol K. Olson Executive Director 600 East Boulevard Avenue Department 325 — Bismarck, ND 58505-0250 1 North Dakota Department of Human Services 600 E. Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, ND 58505 Visit our website at: http://www.state.nd.us/humanservices/ For foster care and adoption information, call: 1 -800-Chldren For information on child abuse and neglect, visit the website at: http://www.stopchildabuse.nd.com To report child abuse and neglect, contact the county social service agency in which the child resides. State of North Dakota Department of Human Services John Hoeven, Governor Carol Olson, Executive Director 2 To the Foster Parent This manual was developed for use in your day-to-day life with the children in your care. It gives you practical information on topics like medical care, payments, and the role of the court, and also provides guidance on areas like welcoming a child, discipline, and parent visits. Throughout the manual, we emphasize the role of foster parents working together with social workers and birth parents, as members of a professional team, in helping the child achieve relationships intended to last a lifetime. Each chapter contains information on state policies related to foster parenting. Where relevant, you are encouraged to check with your foster care agency for local policies on specific issues. You provide a valuable service in helping families through temporary difficulties and meeting the needs of children in a time of crisis and change. We offer this manual as an aid to your role as a foster parent. 3 Acknowledgements The Children & Family Services Division of the North Dakota Department of Human Services wishes to thank the many individuals who contributed to this manual. A workgroup, which was convened to research and develop a manual, met regularly to contribute ideas and feedback on chapters as they were written. Members of the workgroup included: • Darlene Hill, Burleigh County Social Services • Janna Stein, PATH ND, Inc. • Kate Kenna, NEHSC • Del Hager, CFS Training Center • Carrol Burchinal, Foster Parent • Julie Hoffman, CFS • Deb Petry, CFS • Casey Goodhouse, CFS • Margaret Schaar, WCHSC We extend a special “thank-you” to the New York State Office of Children & Family Services. Their Foster Parent Manual, September, 2002, provided us with the format as well as many of the topics and much of the content included in this resource manual. Our job was made so much easier by following New York’s example. Thank you also to individuals not mentioned above who assisted in certain areas upon request but were not part of the regular workgroup. Your assistance was very much appreciated. 4 What is Foster Care? (NDCC 50-11) Foster care for children means the provision of substitute parental child care for those children who are in need of care for which the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is unable, neglects, or refuses to provide, and includes the provision of food, shelter, security and safety, guidance, and comfort on a twenty-four-hour basis, to one or more children under twenty-one years of age to safeguard the child’s growth and development and to minimize and counteract hazards to the child’s emotional health inherent in the separation from the child’s family. Foster care may be provided in a family foster home, group home, or residential child care facility. 5 Table of Contents CHAPTER One: Being a Foster Parent Your Role as a Foster Parent is Based on Specific Competencies.................................................12 Competency Based Approach.........................................................................................................12 PRIDE Model of Practice ..............................................................................................................12 PRIDE Training..............................................................................................................................12 Other Training for Foster Parents ..................................................................................................13 Guidelines for Foster Parent Training Reimbursement .................................................................13 Reimbursement Procedure .............................................................................................................13 Reimbursement Expenses ..............................................................................................................14 Foster Parents’ Agency Record......................................................................................................15 CHAPTER Two: When a Child Comes into Foster Care Why are Children Placed in Foster Care .......................................................................................18 Matching the Child and the Foster Home.......................................................................................18 Being Prepared When a Child is Placed.........................................................................................19 Suggested Items to Have on Hand .................................................................................................19 How Placement Affects Children ..................................................................................................20 Welcoming a Child into Your Home..............................................................................................21 Some Do’s and Don’ts of Welcoming the New Child ...................................................................21 Adapting and Shifting Family Routines.........................................................................................22 Family Rules ..................................................................................................................................23 Creating a Life Book.......................................................................................................................23 CHAPTER Three: Communication, Ongoing & Emergency Ongoing Communication ...............................................................................................................28 Calling the Social Worker...............................................................................................................28 Events in the Child’s Life ..............................................................................................................30 Foster Parents as Mentors...............................................................................................................30 Emergencies ...................................................................................................................................31 Suicide Threats ..............................................................................................................................31 CHAPTER Four: Getting Started, The Basics Confidentiality and Right to Privacy .............................................................................................35 The Child’s Rights .........................................................................................................................35 Personal Property ...........................................................................................................................36 Media..............................................................................................................................................36 6 Discipline .......................................................................................................................................36 Health and Medical Care ...............................................................................................................37 Consent and Medical Treatment ....................................................................................................37 Health Tracks .................................................................................................................................37 Prescriptions ...................................................................................................................................38 Immunizations................................................................................................................................38 Family Planning Services/Sexual Counseling ...............................................................................38 Medical Transportation ..................................................................................................................38 Developmental and Behavioral Factors .........................................................................................38 School ............................................................................................................................................39 Head Start ......................................................................................................................................39 Special Payments ...........................................................................................................................40 Continuation in Foster Care Past Age 18 .......................................................................................40 Religion...........................................................................................................................................40 Cultural Factors...............................................................................................................................41 Relief Care .....................................................................................................................................41 Safety..............................................................................................................................................41 Fire Safety.......................................................................................................................................41 Car Safety Restraints......................................................................................................................41 Firearms in the Home ....................................................................................................................42 Day-to-day Safety ..........................................................................................................................42 Home Property Damage Policy .....................................................................................................42 Social Security ...............................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER Five: Daily Life Consent ..........................................................................................................................................46 Social and Recreational Activities .................................................................................................46 Dating .............................................................................................................................................47 Transportation ................................................................................................................................47 Trips and Vacations........................................................................................................................47 Clothing..........................................................................................................................................48 Allowance ......................................................................................................................................48 Chores and Work............................................................................................................................48 Babysitting .....................................................................................................................................50 Savings ...........................................................................................................................................50 Driving a Car..................................................................................................................................50 Smoking .........................................................................................................................................50 Hair Care.........................................................................................................................................51 Piercing and Tattooing ...................................................................................................................51 Armed Forces .................................................................................................................................51 7 CHAPTER Six: Teamwork Helping Plan for Permanency ........................................................................................................55 Relationship with the Child’s Parents.............................................................................................55 Parent-Child Visits .........................................................................................................................55 Visiting Plans .................................................................................................................................55 Helping the Child with Visits ........................................................................................................56 When a Visit Happens in the Foster Home.....................................................................................56 When There are Problems with Visits ...........................................................................................57 Relationship with the Social Worker .............................................................................................57 Participating in Foster Care Child & Family Teams .....................................................................58 Possible Permanency Outcomes ....................................................................................................59 Placement Options .........................................................................................................................60 Participating in Court Hearings .....................................................................................................60 Different Types of Hearings ..........................................................................................................60 Permanency Hearings ....................................................................................................................61 Legal Rights of Foster Parents .......................................................................................................61 Services to Parents, Children and Foster Parents ..........................................................................62 Services to Parents .........................................................................................................................62 Services to Children .......................................................................................................................62 Services to Foster Parents ..............................................................................................................62 Services to Youth: Preparing Youth for Living Independently .....................................................62 Chafee Foster Care Independence Program ...................................................................................63 Chafee Educational and Training Voucher Program......................................................................64 Family Planning Services and/or Sexual Counseling.....................................................................65 CHAPTER Seven: Financial Reimbursements Standard and Specialized Payments ..............................................................................................69 Standard Rates................................................................................................................................69 Excessive Maintenance Payments .................................................................................................69 Irregular Payments .........................................................................................................................69 Clothing Allowance – Initial and Special.......................................................................................69 Transportation Costs ......................................................................................................................70 Personal Incidentals .......................................................................................................................71 Child Care ......................................................................................................................................71 Medical Costs ................................................................................................................................71 CHAPTER Eight: Concerns for Foster Parents When a Child Leaves a Foster Home.............................................................................................75 When a Child is Removed From a Foster Home ...........................................................................76 Closing a Foster Home ..................................................................................................................77 8