Goal:

The goal of foster care is to provide for the physical, emotional and social needs of children and youths in the “substitute family setting” until the natural family can be reunited or a permanent placement through adoption can be arranged. It is intended that through temporary placement of children in a foster home, regular visitation, and social work services, that troubled families can be reunited. When this is not possible, a permanent home is sought out including current foster parents.

To the child

:

• Provide a safe and comfortable environment for a child to live in with a separate bed and a place for his/her belongings.
• Provide for the foster child's food, shelter, personal care, recreational opportunities, and maintenance of clothing.
• To provide for school attendance, monitor progress, note special needs and accomplishments.
• To attend to medical and dental needs including regular checkups as well as attending to special needs.
• To help the child through the grieving an adjustment process that accompanies removal from their own home and placement.
• To help the child maintain a realistic relationship with his/her family through cooperation with visitation and active consideration to his/her feelings. To assist the child and preparing to return home or achieving permanency through adoption.
• To provide/encourage recreational enrichment activities that will promote healthy development of the child.
• To maintain a record for the child of his/her time in care, developmental milestones, photographs him and, report cards, etc.
• To provide consistent and realistic discipline and guidance that is age-appropriate and does not involve corporal punishment.
• Instruct the child in good health and hygiene habits

To the agency:

• To keep the agency informed of problems and progress a foster child, including immediate notification if child runs away.
• To keep the agency informed of changes in the home including change of address and phone number, death or departures of immediate family members, addition to family, notifications before vacations, etc.
• To be available for meetings with agency workers.
• To attend foster parent training… Six hours per year.
• Be part of a case review when asked or make a court appearance when needed.
• Inform the worker of any special needs of the child including educational, treatment, physical, etc.
• Notify the worker and obtain permission before taking a foster child trips extended time or distance.
• Keep running notes and/or questions of important matters have the most productive discussions with the caseworker.
• Notify the worker regarding extended child care arrangements.
• Give 30 days notice when requesting removal of a child.
• Cooperate with agency workers to implement plan for family reunification or permanent placement.
• Comply with state regulations and agency policies and procedures as outlined in a foster parent’s manual.

Biological parents:

• Be open to facilitating a working relationship with biological parents
• To cooperate with visitation.
• To help the child maintain a realistic perception and attitude towards his/her own parents.
• To provide necessary and appropriate information about child's growth and development, likes, dislikes, etc. to the parent.
• In case of reunification, to prepare child to return home.