By Jay Paul Deratany
1. Ask to see all of the child's medical records and psychological records before agreeing to accept the child into your home—and do not take no for an answer! Foster families have often accepted children and then later found out that the child suffers from a medical or psychological ailment which the family is unable or untrained to handle. You need to have all of the records from birth forward to have a clear assessment.
2. Once you have the records, get permission to take them to a physician for review.
3. Make sure that there is a transition plan in place before the child is placed. It is traumatic for a child to move from one setting to another unfamiliar home. If you visit the child in his home setting (or if that is not advisable, then at the agency) it makes the transition go smoothly. You also want to have time with the child to make sure that this will work for both parties.
4. Make sure there is a social worker from the agency planning to make regular visits once the child is placed. Some foster placement agencies have little contact with the foster family once the child is in place. The transition will go much better if there are regular follow up visits with a qualified social worker.
5. Ask how many previous placements the child has had, and the reason for the disruption of that placement. Again, though many agencies in Illinois do a good job, there are a few which will not make facts available. It is important to know why the child's placement was disrupted.
6. When in doubt, have a psychological assessment. If you, or your consulting doctor, see a history which would indicate that the child is suffering from depression, mental illness or any psychological condition, it is advisable to insist that the private placement agency have the child seen by a qualified child psychologist for evaluation and possible treatment. Oftentimes the agency is paid by DCFS for such services, and must make them available for the child.
7. Listen to the psychologist. If you have an evaluation, and/or a family session, before the placement and the professional gives the opinion that either the child or the family will not be best served if the placement goes forward, then abide by that decision. You do not want to do more harm to the child
8. If the foster child is older than your own children, then make absolutely sure that the foster child does not have a history of violence or sexual perpetration. Obviously an older child can influence and intimidate a younger child in your home, and you may not even be aware of it. A foster child with a history of violence or sexual offense needs very specialized care, which may be better suited with a placement in a home with no other children, or at least without any younger children.
9. Have at least four or five family discussions before bringing the foster child into your home. Talk to all members of your household before bringing the foster child into your home. There may be issues which surface, from your children or other members of the family, which would cause a problem if the particular child is brought into your home. Family sessions with a mental health professional would probably be a good idea, before the child is placed.
10. Become appropriately certified. Illinois law requires specific classes and programs before you can become a foster care provider, so the typical requirements are usually accounted for. But, making sure that you conduct fire drills with the entire family, are certified in CPR, and have an emergency contact plan for all emergencies would be very valuable. |
