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Annual Conference For Resource Families

Annual Conference For Resource Families. “ Best of Both Worlds: Resource & Birth Families Working T ogether for Children ”. Presented by. Norma Ginther , MSW, LISW. Working with Birth Families: Resource Parents and Birth Families Joining for the Love of the Child. The Hurdle.

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Annual Conference For Resource Families

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  1. Annual Conference For Resource Families “Best of Both Worlds: Resource & Birth Families Working Together for Children” Presented by Norma Ginther, MSW, LISW

  2. Working with Birth Families: Resource Parents and Birth Families Joining for the Love of the Child

  3. The Hurdle What is your greatest concern or hurdle facing you when working with birth parents?

  4. Why are We Here? To examine how resource parents develop in their role with birth parents To develop a plan for success as a mentoring resource parent To problem solve situations we can all learn from To learn strategies to help birth parents To examine issues that create conflict and resolve conflict

  5. From the Eyesof a Child What does disengagement mean to a child?

  6. Team Member Understanding Resource Caregivers and How They Grow in Working with Birth Parents Room for One More Team Leader Child Advocate

  7. Working with Birth Parents: Where it fits in your development

  8. Dealing with Conflicts:Sources of Resource Family Conflict Lack of resources Anger Limited team membership Desire to Protect Unclear expectations Fear of sabotage Have attached Different lifestyle

  9. Dealing with Conflicts:Sources of Caseworker Conflict May Feel Conflicting Roles Feeling lack of support Frustration with the job Frustration with resource family Frustration with the system Frustration with birth family

  10. Dealing with Conflicts:Sources of Birth Parent Conflict Lack of control Envy and resentment Role conflict Unsure of how to relate to RF Guilt and grief Inability to explain removal

  11. Dealing with Conflicts:Sources of Child’s Conflict Torn loyalties Having two worlds Conflicting values and lifestyle Feelings of being punished Identity as a foster child Control

  12. Benefits of working together • Reunification may occur more quickly • Primary family is likely to make permanent changes • If reunification is not possible, primary families may relinquish custody to resource family • Resource Family experience personal growth

  13. Liabilities of working together • Resource families and primary families may not agree • Resource and primary families may not like each other • Resource family may be fearful of the primary family • Primary family may interfere with the resource family • Resource family may want to adopt • Primary family may be jealous

  14. Guidelines to Produce Beneficial Services to Children and their Families • Respect for one another. • Seek conflict resolution. • Permission for honesty. • Focus on the best interest of the child. • Communication. • Continuity of the teams mission.

  15. Foster Parents Speak:Crossing Bridgesand Fostering Change

  16. Foster Parents Speak: • What new things did you learn from the video? How do you think this new insight might change you? • Did anything in the video surprise you?  If so, what?   Why was it surprising? • Which things in the video were most like your own experience? • Which things in the video were most different from your own experience? • If you could ask the foster parents in the video a question, what would you ask them?

  17. When Resource Families Work with Primary Families • Supporting the Primary Family • Helping the Primary Family • Teaching the Primary Family • Participating with the Primary Family

  18. Is there an IEP or 501 plan? FAMILY INTERACTION • Without family interaction parent / child relationship deteriorates • Loss greatest emotional trauma • Reduces negative affects • Reduces fantasies / fears • Reduces self-blame • Immediate, regular, and increased • Length? – age / need for protection • Least restrictive • Minimum – multiple times per week

  19. Grief Cycle Shock / Denial Anger / Protest Bargaining Depression Resolution

  20. Optimizing Family Interaction • Surest way to assess strengths / needs. • Teaching tool for caseworkers to model. • Minimize risk. • Never do anything for a child, a parent can do. • Evaluate why children or parents withdraw. • Keep and encourage family traditions. • Make Life Books. • Caseworkers must assess their commitment level and why it’s there. • Specifically recruit resource parents to work with birth parents.

  21. ASSUMPTIONS 1. Agency assures well-planned family interaction. 2. Family interaction is not a reward or punishment. 3. All planning should involve all members of the Primary Care Team.

  22. LOCATION • Least restrictive / most normal • Provide safety • Best for child • - own home • - foster home • - neutral place • - office

  23. Resource Caregivers Role / Responsibility • Assist or provide transportation of child. • Have regular on-going contact with parent. • Permit Family Interaction in foster homes. • Active in arranging Family Interaction. • Document behavior before, during and after. • Encourage contact and support child. • Have child ready to participate. • Pack clothing and other essentials for overnight. • Help child accept separation from parent – life book opportunities. • Notify caseworker of any unplanned activity that occurs.

  24. Phases of Family Interaction • I. Initial • II. Middle • III. Transitional

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