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What can foster care providers do to prevent allegations of maltreatment or neglect in foster care provider homes?

Foster care providers are vulnerable to charges from both the children they care for and the birth parents who have been denied custody. Here are some steps foster care providers can take to protect themselves from allegations and the resulting bureaucratic nightmare. The first step to preventing allegations is to prevent maltreatment from happening.

Steps a provider family can take to prevent maltreatment:

  • Understand and follow all licensing regulations. When a provider is accused of neglect or abuse and has not been in compliance with regulations, the likelihood of a negative licensing action is increased. Visit www.lapponline.org (Legal Advocates for Permanent Parenting) to get more information.
  • Maintain a positive relationship with the licensing and child’s case worker. Make sure any predetermined variance from regulation is approved IN WRITING beforehand. Call the licensing worker and child’s worker when positive things happen with the child. Don’t make all your calls to the agency sound like problems or complaints. Let them enjoy the good days you have along with you, they also need a smile is their days.
  • Get as much information about the child as possible before your accept a placement, write it down or get it in writing. Keep a separate notebook for each child, a colored 25¢ pocket folder with a stitched notebook inserted in the pocket will do. A stitched notebook is good because pages cannot be torn out without upsetting the sequence of events. Don’t use your computer because changes are too easy. Invest the time to handwrite.
    • Behavioral, emotional, physical, schoolissues?
    • Medical attention needed (current doctors/previous specialists)
    • How many prior foster homes and placements has child had?
    • Ask to speak to previous foster family before child comes to your home
    • What respite is available? How are they related to the child?
    • School issues?
  • Don’t be afraid to say no to a placement that will put you at risk or you are concerned if you are capable of handling. Lay your pride down; you don’t have the skills to care for every type of child.

USE COMMON SENSE
  • Conduct daily safety checks and make sure all hazardous materials are put away. Safety guidelines cannot be compromised.
  • Pay careful attention to supervision and safety issues, especially for younger children. Make sure family members understand safety issues, not leaving curling irons unplugged, seat belts fastened, medicine cabinets locked, do not leave child unattended in vehicles and routinely do checks to assure the well-being of ALL members of the household.
  • Closely supervise children at all times. It is unwise to allow children to play unattended at any time.
  • Do not have too many places where children can hide.
  • Leave nap room doors open and periodically check on children during these times.
  • Develop family policies and follow them concerning: discipline, children's developing sexuality, toileting, napping routines, and how substitutes will be hired. File a copy of these with licensing agency. (See Chapter 14)
  • Never use, or threaten to use, corporal punishment as a means of discipline. This form of discipline cannot be delegated to non-parent guardians, and is prohibited by licensing regulations. Do not use discipline prohibited by licensing. (See chapter 13) A foster parent is a model of appropriate behavior and a teacher of problem-solving and communication skills to the children they care for. If methods of discipline vary between birth children and foster children, discuss the variances with the social worker.
  • Carefully screen all helpers/substitutes including relatives and friends; make sure they understand licensing regulations, house rules, and any specific restrictions about individual children because of court orders, etc.

Other steps designed to prevent false allegations against provider families by parents or older children who may be angry or unhappy:
  • Always report suspected child abuse to local child protection authorities or the social worker assigned to the case, especially after parental visits. (See Chapter 4 in Families at Risk for more information)
  • DOCUMENT! Don't trust your memory. Keep a journal of situations, reactions, behaviors.
  • Document any changes in behavior in children including severity and length of these changes, especially after visitation or any changes at school. Include any action taken to deal with inappropriate behavior. Also document any unusual behavior the child has regarding social workers, police or medical personnel. (See Chapter 14 in Families at Risk for complete details)
  • Check out the Children’s Medical Organizer at www.childrenshc.org with the Children’s Medical Organizer a complete health history is at your fingertips. A record of immunizations, medications, supplements, reactions, allergies, test results, hospitalizations, etc. discuss this program with your child’s case manager and your licensing worker.
  • Keep logs/notebooks on each child to document visitation, medical appointments, school progress/problems, medical needs, behavioral patterns, or changes and efforts to teach acceptable behavior.
  • Have a visitor sign in sheet biological parents visits with dates are then provable.
  • Always document any serious conflicts with parents, children, social workers, licensors, teachers, etc., and keep these records in a file. Request copies of these to be kept with the licensing agency.
  • Keep parents informed of positive progress their child is making and any interesting things they might like to know about their child's activities. View yourself as a part of a co-parenting team that is attempting to reunify a family, not as a competitor for their children's loyalty.
  • Identify conflicts that arise with parents, children, teachers, social workers, etc., because of value differences. Be respectful of individual rights to their own point of view. Negotiate and work toward a compromise.
  • Seek outside resources and assistance immediately if behaviors or issues arise beyond abilities or desires to deal with. Avoid blaming others if possible, and actively seek a solution to resolve the problem to the benefit of all concerned.
  • Have a visitor sign in page in the notebook. Many times a biological parent will claim a foster parent won’t let them visit their child. A dated list with signature will do two things protect you from false allegations of non-compliance and provide support for reunification of family by proofing the child and parent have been working on the relationship.
  • Invest in a poleroid camera. If you have a child that visits mom and dad on weekends to document before and after pictures. Make sure camera has data function. This is also handy for positive relations for child to have pictures of parents coming to get them and visiting if things are progressing positively.

No one can be a perfect parent every day and under every circumstance. There is no way to completely avoid allegations. Understanding your own personal needs and the needs of family members is crucial in being able to develop a supportive and strong foster family.

  • Be the best parent you can be.
  • Avoid being stretched. Know and respct limits. Don't overload your home. Establish appropriate boundaries. If the child is not a good family fit, ask for help before any negative situation can develop.
  • Take breaks from the children and the situation. Make sure to get away alone with your support team or significant other.
  • Say no to an inappropriate placement. Children need as much continuity of care as possible, and saying yes to a potentially unhealthy placement could damage your family and harm the child.
  • Be a team member. Work for the best interest of the child in your care. Build a support system. Foster parenting cannot be done in isolation.