Ins and Outs of Foster Care

Ins and Outs of Foster Care Presented by Jane Wusik MS Program Director Necco Foster Care

Outline • Overview Of The System • Foster Parent Information • Referral Process • Who To Contact • Differences In Ohio And Kentucky • Psycho/Social Issues • Changes In Foster Care

Overview of the system • Each year 32,000 children are removed from homes due to abuse and/or neglect. This is enough children to fill half of Paul Brown Stadium.

Overview of the system • Types of foster homes • Family foster homes • Caregivers have no previous experience with children • Caregivers participate in 36 hours of pre-service training • Caregivers participate in 40 hours of ongoing training • Foster home is re-certified every two years • Treatment foster homes • Caregivers have at least two years experience with children through foster care, education, employment etc. • Caregivers participate in 36 hours of pre-service training • Caregivers participate in 60 hours of ongoing training • Foster home is re-certified every two years

Overview of the system • Types of agencies • County agencies • Maintain custody of youth who were removed from their county regardless of where they are placed. • Hold custody of the youth while they are involved with the system • Issue medical cards for the youth • Workers are considered to be the guardians of the youth and have to have a bachelors degree. • Can recommend homes for licensure, typically for a family foster home • Butler County Children Services, Hamilton County Childrens Services, Clermont County Childrens Services

Overview of the system • Types of agencies cont. • Private agencies • Do not hold custody of the youth while they are in care • Cannot issue medical cards for the youth • Workers are not considered to be the guardians of the youth and have to have a bachelors degree plus a license. • Can recommend homes for licensure, typically for a treatment foster home • Necco, Focus on Youth, Lifeway, St. Joe’s Orphanage

Foster parent information • Certification process • Caregivers have to attend 36 hours of pre-service training • Pre-service training is offered on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday evenings and every other Saturday • Classes consist of: • Orientation and overview of agency policies and procedures • Team building/foster caregivers participation in permanency planning for children and their families

Foster parent information • Certification process • Pre-service classes continued • Abuse and neglect and the impact on child development • Attachment and separation • Discipline and behavior management • Cultural issues in placement/ MEPA • Working with primary families • Effects of care giving on the family

Foster parent information • Certification process • Pre service classes continued • First aid/CPR/Prevention, recognition, and management of communicable diseases • Independent living/ Community Health and social services available to children and families • Foster parent handbook and rights and responsibilities of foster caregivers • These classes are the same for treatment foster homes with the addition of:

Foster parent information • Certification process • These pre service classes are the same for treatment foster homes with the addition of: • De-escalation • Treatment care giving • Educational advocacy

Foster parent information • Certification process • Submit to a federal, state and local background checks • Submit to a medical exam by a doctor • Participate in the home study process, which can take up to 30 hours. • Home study process consists of interviews regarding life history, family history, employment, layout of the home

Foster parent information • Post certification • Depending on the type of home the foster parent was certified for they have to participate in a specified amount of ongoing training. • Family foster homes • 40 hours of ongoing training within 2 years • Required classes consist of • Cultural diversity/MEPA • First Aid/CPR

Foster parent information • Post certification • Required classes continued • Foster caregiver handbook training • Independent living/life book training • Safety in the home

Foster parent information • Post certification • Treatment foster home • 60 hours of ongoing training • Required classes are the same as family homes with the addition of: • De-escalation re fresher • Education advocacy

Foster parent information • Post certification • Additional training topics can include but are not limited to: • Abuse/neglect issues • Educational advocacy • Behavior management techniques • Life books • Developmental stages • Substance abuse issues • Recognizing symptoms of abuse

Foster parent information • Post certification • Additional topics continued • Reactive attachment disorder • Conduct disorder • ADD/ADHD • Psychotropic and other prescription medications • Documentation instructions • Rules and regulations review • Increasing self-esteem • Specific issues relating to treatment foster children

Foster parent information • Post certification continued • Necco offers ongoing training once a month, the last Monday or Thursday of the month. • Food and childcare are provided for the foster parents • Necco receives payment from the state for providing these trainings to foster parents • Foster Parents are paid a small allowance for attending the training, $10 per hour.

Foster parent information • Foster parent payment • Foster parents are paid twice a month. • Foster parents are typically paid two rates depending on the type of child they accept for placement. • Non-Therapeutic foster youth • Minimal issues, typically 0-7 years old, don’t participate in therapy or take psychotropic medications. • Foster parents are typically paid $25 per day to care for these youth. This includes transportation, clothing, and food.

Foster parent information • Therapeutic or treatment foster youth • More profound issues such as medical, emotional or educational. Typically older than 7 although children younger than 7 can be considered treatment. Typically participate in therapy and/or are prescribed psychotropic medications. • Foster parents are typically paid $35 a day to care for these youth. This includes their transportation needs, clothing and food.

Referral process • County agencies receive information regarding neglect and abuse from schools, neighbors, police, etc. • An investigation is completed by the counties or the police and a conclusion is made either to remove the children or leave them in the home. • If the children are removed from the home the county looks for a foster home. • Typically the county sends the referral to their own foster homes, typically family homes. • If no foster home can be found the referral is sent to the private agencies, typically treatment homes.

Referral process • Necco receives the referral and utilizes a matching process with the treatment team to match the youth with a home that can meet the youths needs. • If placement is found a per diem is negotiated between the county and the private agency. • An intake is coordinated between the county, private agency and the foster family. • Intake paperwork is completed typically in the foster home. • Youth receives a health screening and a mental health screening with in 48 hours of placement.

Referral process • Private agency case worker and County case worker coordinate services for the youth such as school enrollment, therapy services, med/som evaluations, medical services and visitation. • County case worker has the ability to authorize and sign off on services. • Private agency case worker has the ability to coordinate these services between the foster parent, provider and the county.

Who to contact • The county worker is considered the guardian of the child and authorizes who the private agencies can share information with regarding the child • The county worker can sign off on authorizations for treatment, such as medical and genetic testing. • The private agency can give out information regarding the name, address and phone number of the county worker. • It is best to start with contacting the county worker directly. If you are unable to get a quick response contact the private agency case worker, they may be able to assist you.

Differences in Ohio and Kentucky • Ohio is a county based system. • Guardians of the children are referred to as county workers. • Each individual county has different contracts with each individual provider. This can mean differences in payment and services provided to children and foster parents. • Youth are not allowed to obtain a drivers license while in the custody of the county.

Differences in Ohio and Kentucky • Kentucky is a state based system • Guardians of the children are referred to as state workers • Payment is standardized across the state and between private and state agencies • Youth are allowed to obtain a drivers license while in the custody of the state, typically if they re-commit after turning 18.

Psycho/Social Issues • 67% of youth who age out of the foster care system are in jail, homeless or dead by their 19th birthday. • Youth who are in the custody of the state of Ohio are not allowed to obtain their drivers license. • Youth are not allowed to spend the night at anyone’s house unless members over the age of 18 submit to a federal, state and local background check. • Youth typically are moved from home to home so they lack stability in their home life as well as at school. • Youth in foster care typically have difficulty attaching to peers and adults.

Psycho/Social Issues • All medications must be kept in a lockbox in the foster home. Foster parents have to administer medications to the foster youth. • Youth are not allowed to ride with anyone in the car who is not over the age of 21 and needs to produce a copy of their drivers license and car insurance. • Agencies make every effort possible to place sibling groups together. Sometimes this is not possible and sibling groups have to be split between two homes.

Psycho/Social Issues • At times youth are removed from their homes unexpectedly and come into care without any of their belongings. • Youth are missing their own clothing, toys, blankets, and pillows. They are scared and unsure of their surroundings. • Typically they have to stay at the county office until a placement can be found. • Youth have been removed/moved from home to home in the middle of the night.

Changes in foster care • Major changes have been implemented in the foster care system since the death of Marcus Fiesel in August of 2006. • Rule and regulation changes are occurring weekly • Changes are occurring on the state level as well as with the individual county agencies. • Hamilton county requires Foster parents to fill out a release form so daily local background checks can be run • Butler county requires Necco to visit therapeutic foster children weekly with one of the visits being unannounced • Clermont county only requires Necco to visit therapeutic foster children three times per month. • More intensive process to become a foster parent. • Have to submit to yearly FBI, BCII and local checks. Prior only had to submit to BCII checks every two years. FBI’s were required only if lived outside of the state within the last 5 years.

Changes in foster care • More intensive process to become a foster parent. • Have to submit to yearly FBI, BCII and local checks. • Prior only had to submit to BCII checks every two years. • FBI’s were required only if lived outside of the state within the last 5 years.

Changes in foster care • Home study process has become more intense and invasive for foster parents. • 1349 versus the 1673 • 1673 used to be required for adoptions and the 1349 was used for foster care. Now 1673 is used for adoptions as well as foster care. • Central registry checks are required yearly for all adults in the home over the age of 18 • Central registry notifies agencies of any cases of substantiated abuse or neglect against the foster parents

Changes in foster care • New transfer rule went into effect on 12/11/06 • Foster parents are not allowed to “agency hop” • They can only transfer once during the certification period, which is two years • Foster parents are not allowed to transfer if there is an open investigation or corrective action against them. • There is more communication between agencies when a foster family is in the process of transferring • Foster parents can only initiate/request one transfer in a certification period or two years

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Ins and Outs of Foster Care