What is foster care?
The dictionary offers the following definition
of "foster:"
"To help to grow or develop; stimulate; promote, and to afford, receive,
or share nourishment, or sustenance, although not related by blood." A
foster parent is "one who performs the duties of a parent to
the child of another."
In many ways a foster parent resembles any other parent who works to understand and love a child. Foster parenting is not a lifetime commitment to a child, but a commitment to make a meaningful difference during a child's lifetime.
What
is therapeutic foster care?
NECCO sees it as:
a time to help children relearn good habits
in a nurturing but structured environment.
What
makes a good foster parent?
Foster parent(s) should be good problem solvers who are committed to children, realistic in their expectations, and flexible in their approach to children.
Each foster family needs to be committed to any child placed in their home. They should have realistic expectations for the children in their care and be accepting of a child's potential and any limitations they may have. They need to be flexible and demonstrate problem-solving skills to address family and child-rearing issues. Finally, foster parents should include children in family activities to help make the child feel like a part of a family.
The best advice for being a good foster parent is to talk with the child and do things with them. Many foster children have not had the opportunity to have an adult really listen to them or to talk about problems with an adult. Often, parents confuse listening and talking with agreeing to poor behavior. Parents can disagree with poor behavior (and hold children accountable for the poor behavior).
Plan family events that include everyone. Play games together, watch television together, talk together, and make each child feel as though they are a member of your family.
What should
you expect from NECCO?
As an agency, we try to provide the best possible quality of life for foster children and the best possible support services to the foster parent(s) responsible for their care.
In addition to the emotional rewards of helping a child in need, foster parent(s) receive bi-monthly reimbursement, specialized training, respite opportunities and various supportive services.
What are the responsibilities of NECCO
foster parents?
First and foremost, we ask that each parent actively participate in the lives of the children placed in their homes.
Responsibilities:
- Incorporate the principles of Nicholas Hobbs
- Provide all of the daily living needs including nutrition, clothing, shelter and physical care
- Focus on the safety and health of the child as identified in the Special Health Precautions policy
- Nurture and accept the child as part of the family
- Provide supervision for the child
- Provide routine transportation for children - meeting the guidelines
set forth in the NECCO Transportation Protocol
- Provide a vehicle safety inspection statement (included on sign off sheet
that parent signs for foster parent handbook agreement)
- Provide structured daily routines and introduce skills for independent living
- Maintain the child's confidentiality and rights as named in The Youth Rights and Responsibilities Policy
- Assist the child with understanding the youth's rights and responsibilities
if they have questions
- Establish household rules for the child
- Comply with NECCO policy and procedure as it pertains to foster parents
- Comply with state and federal regulations concerning foster parenting
- Provide opportunities for religious observance in the faith of his/her
choice
- Make every effort to meet the cultural needs of the child placed in your
home. Plan at least one diverse cultural experience per month for you. Examples
of these include attending festivals, restaurants, movies or museums. Make
the events something that can be fun the entire family where everyone has
an opportunity to learn something about another culture and/or to deepen
the child's understanding of his/her own culture. Remember, a youth's cultural
needs are NOT the same as cultural diversity--even though they need that too.
- Use common sense
- Understand the grievance procedure for youth and ensure that the child
has access to the information if needed
- Ensure the child's confidentiality while in your home
- Make sure you and the child placed in your home understand NECCO's smoking
policy
- Keep accurate records in your Home File for you and the child to access as needed
- Be familiar with the Continuous Quality Improvement process by participating
in foster parent surveys, focus groups or other methods to gain information
to improve the quality of services
What are the initial training requirements of a therapeutic foster parent?
- Orientation
- CPR & First Aid
- Safe Crisis Management
- Cultural Diversity
- The core-training curriculum as dictated by state requirements
These requirements are set by the state. If you have any questions
regarding foster parent training, please contact the Home Resource
Coordinator in your local NECCO office.
How many hours of training does a foster parent have
to complete every year?
Each foster parent is required to receive initial and on-going training every
year. The year is measured by each foster parent's initial certification date.
Exact number of training hours differ depending on licensure/accreditation and
state requirements.
Each year foster parent(s) are required by law to provide NECCO with:
- Valid driver's license(s)
- Current home or renter's insurance and auto insurance
- Animal inoculation for each pet
- TB tests
- Medical exams on all family members (annually for all family members)
- A background fingerprint check (State)
- An abuse check
- Nurses aid check
- An FBI check (if you live in a bordering county to another state, or if you have lived in another state at anytime during the year)
The certification and recertification requirements are subject to
change according to state or federal regulations, accreditation regulations
or agency regulations. Foster homes are inspected at the time of
certification and recertification. In order to continue to foster
the home must pass the safety inspection at the time of recertification.
As part of the recertification process foster parents are asked to
complete a recertification questionnaire and participate in joint
and individual interviews.
What services will I receive from NECCO once a
foster child is placed in my home?
NECCO provides in-home case management, a 24-hour on-call crisis pager,
assistance with obtaining individual services for children such as therapy,
respite care, regular training opportunities, and support to foster families
as needed.
Should you decide to adopt, NECCO can assist you with the paperwork and on-going
supervision of the child. See your Case Manager.
What information can I share with others regarding the foster child in my home?
All information you receive or hear about a child is considered confidential.
This means that you cannot discuss anything (the child's background, previous
placements, health or mental health information, educational information, or
any other personal information) with any other person (including family members)
outside of NECCO unless you have received written permission from the child's
state worker. Please consult with your Case Manager if you have questions about
with whom you have permission to discuss a child's personal information.
How do I proceed in medical or other emergencies?
If there is a medical emergency involving a child in your care, call 911 or take
the child to the emergency room. Do not call NECCO first. If there is a behavioral
crisis with a child or an emergency after hours, call the pager first. If the
crisis is during work hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.), please call the office and ask
to speak with your Case Manager or another member of his/her team.
If a child in your care threatens to commit suicide, first ask the child if he
or she has ingested anything as an attempt. If the child has taken any pills
or ingested toxic substances, immediately contact 911. If the youth has cut him/herself,
apply emergency first aid, and take the child to the nearest hospital emergency
room. In either of these cases, contact the Case Manager or the 24-hour crisis
pager (if after work hours), immediately after contacting 911 or taking the child
to the hospital. Should a child talk about suicide, but has not acted upon it,
contact the Case Manager or another member of his/her team.
What is the 24-hour crisis pager?
Every foster parent receives our crisis pager number. We ask that you only use
the pager for crises or emergencies. Do not use the pager for routine questions
or to report that a child is doing well. Those calls should be made to the office
during regular business hours.
The following instances warrant calling the crisis pager:
- Runaways
- Suicide attempts or threats
- Criminal activity
- Dangerous or highly unusual behaviors or tantrums
- Serious injuries or medical condition
- Restraints
What is respite care?
Respite is time-out for foster families and children. It is a time period during which foster children are removed from your home and placed in another certified foster home. Respite allows the foster family and the child time to regroup and have a rest. It may be requested by the foster parent or deemed necessary by the agency. Respite care can last a matter of hours or a number of days, depending on the situation.
The respite provider must meet the same qualifications as foster parent(s). Therefore, only other certified foster parent(s) can provide respite. Talk with your Case Manager if you believe you need respite care.
Can foster children have overnight visits with
their biological parent(s) or others?
Some children are permitted to have overnight visits with biological family members.
Visitation rules differ with each child's individual case plan. It is the foster
parent's responsibility to know what the youth's service plan says about their
biological visits. During each Service Plan meeting, home visitations and transportation
arrangementswill be discussed.
Never allow a child to stay outside of the foster home overnight
without prior permission from the Case Manager.
What is the nature of my relationship with a NECCO
case manager?
Foster parent(s) and Case Managers work together to provide services
and support to children. You should have regular contact with your
child's Case Manager and work hard to keep the lines of communication
open. Always contact your Case Manager when you have an issue,
question, or concern about a child in your care. You should contact
the Program Director or Clinical Director if you are not having
regular contact with your Case Manager.
Foster parents are not considered employees of NECCO, therefore
are not entitled to employee benefits. Monies received for caring
for foster children is intended to be a reimbursement and not compensation.
What is the process for placing foster children
in my home?
NECCO receives information about each child placed in our care.
This information comes in the form of a referral. The referral
includes information about the child's age, developmental needs,
education needs, sibling relationships, and social and legal history.
When deciding where to place a child, we try to match each child's
needs with a foster family who can best meet those needs. We try
to place children in a home where they will have a successful experience.
When the NECCO staff attempt to place a child in your home, we
first contact you to provide you with information about the child.
Who pays for clothing for foster children?
When children initially come into care, some of them need clothing
and others do not. If a child needs clothing, the child's Case
Manager will determine how much clothing is needed and NECCO will
provide an initial clothing allowance.
After the initial clothing allowance, the foster family is responsible
for purchasing all clothing. A portion of the foster parent(s)'
daily per diem serves to reimburse foster parent(s) for clothing
purchases beyond the initial clothing allowance. An initial clothing
inventory is completed to identify clothing the child comes into
care or into your home with. Any new clothing purchased on behalf
of the child should be added to the clothing inventory periodically.
What responsibility do I have for a foster
child's medical needs?
As a foster parent, you are not financially responsible for medical
care for your foster children. The entity having custody of the
child is responsible for payment. Most children in foster care
have a medical card. Very few children have private insurance.
If a child does not have health insurance, the Case Manager will
work with the custodial agency to obtain insurance for the child.
Health and Mental Health Screenings
Each child who has not had a health screening conducted 30 days
prior to entering care must have a Health Screening conducted by
a health practitioner within 48 hours of entering care. The purpose
for this is to protect you and identify any communicable diseases
the child may be carrying. In addition, each child needs to have
a mental health screening (if not already seeing a mental health
professional) within 30 days of entering care.
Each child is expected to have a physical, dental and vision examination
on a routine basis and at least once a year. It is your responsibility
to transport your foster children to these appointments.
When scheduling medical appointments please remember the following:
- Make sure the doctor or clinic will accept the child's current
medical card prior to making the appointment.
- Always pay with the medical card.
- Non-routine care may require pre-approval from the state agency
or worker. Check with your Case Manager if any questions arise
concerning non-routine medical care or issues regarding the medical
card. Check with your Case Manager if you
have any questions concerning medical care for a child.
What if a foster child in my home takes medication?
Prescription Medications:
- It is your responsibility to ensure that a child receives his/her medication.
- All medication must be kept in a locked compartment and only removed
when administered. Medications must be returned to the locked compartment
after they have been taken.
- Foster parent(s) are given medication logs for children in their care.
It is your responsibility to keep the individual medication log current.
- Talk with your Case Manager about any concerns you have regarding prescription
medication for a foster child.
- Prescription medication can only be discontinued upon written order
of the physician. Even though you believe a child may not need a particular
medication, use cannot be discontinued unless ordered by a physician.
- It is possible for a child to be removed from a home in which there
is question concerning misuse of medication.
Non-prescription Medications:
- Use common sense when deciding to give non-prescription medication
to the foster child. Check with the youth or the case manager
to make sure the child does not have any history of allergic
reactions to over-the-counter medications.
- Make sure to follow the instructions and dosage suggestions.
- Non-prescription medication must be kept locked in the same manner as prescription medications.
All medication administered to a child should be added to the medication
log.
Should I have an emergency medical plan & first
aid supplies in my home?
Each foster home should also be equipped with a basic first aid kit. In case of an emergency, call 911 or take the child to the emergency room. Then contact the Case Manager or the crisis hotline for additional support.
Keep an updated list of emergency phone numbers located by the telephone and on your refrigerator. Your list should include:
- Police, 911
- EMS
- Fire Department
- Physician
- Hospital
- Poison Control Center
- NECCO Office Number
- NECCO Pager & Crisis Number
During initial training, you will complete a disaster plan and evacuation
plan for your home. Both of these documents need to be posted in
a visible place in your home. We suggest the refrigerator. You need
to review both of these documents with each child who is placed in
your home. Some state regulations may require documentation of the
completion of fire drills.
What are my responsibilities for children who receive
therapy?
- Because NECCO providesTherapeutic Foster Care, counseling and therapy
is an important component to our services.
- It is very important to make sure that each foster child attends every therapy session scheduled for him/her.
- It is your responsibility to get children to all therapy appointments.
If you have any questions regarding therapy for your child please
discuss this with your Case Manager or the Program Director in your
local NECCO office.
How do I discipline foster children?
Foster children cannot be subjected to corporal punishment (i.e. they cannot
be spanked, etc.). As a foster parent, you will be required to read and sign
a Corporal Punishment Agreement.
Many children placed in out-of-home care have been abused, neglected, emotionally
mistreated, exploited or sexually abused. Therefore, they may have to be disciplined
differently than your own children. If you have questions about disciplining
a foster child, speak with your Case Manager.
In addition, to prohibiting corporal punishment, the following forms of punishment
shall not be used:
- Verbal abuse or threats of physical violence
- Denial of food, clothing or shelter
- Seclusion
- Mechanical restraint
- Assignments of extremely strenuous exercise or work
- Denial of any additional services to child
NECCO also asks that our foster parent(s):
- Educate and discipline each child with kindness and understanding.
- Establish well-defined rules, which set the expectations and limits of behavior.
- Use teaching techniques that stress praise and encouragement.
- Do not subject a child to verbal abuse, derogatory remarks about foster children, their families, their races, religion, or their ethnic or cultural backgrounds or threaten removal from the foster home.
Can I use time-out as a means of disciplining foster
children?
Yes. The purpose of time-out is to reduce the frequency of negative behaviors
over extended periods of time. However, the foster parent must monitor the time-out.
- It is important when issuing time-outs that you inform the child why he/she is being put in time-out and what behavior is asked to be changed.
- Children should be placed in time-out for no more than ten (10) minutes at a time. A good rule of thumb is to have a child in time-out for a length of time equal to his/her age, up to age 10.
When to Use Time-Out:
- Disruptive behaviors (group & individual)
- Disrespectfulness
- Off-task behavior
- Negative attitude
- Verbal aggression
- Cursing
- Remember, time-out begins when the child has moved to the time-out area.
- After using time-out, it is important
to give the child the opportunity to "try" the new behavior
by allowing him/her to return to the area he/she was asked
to leave from.
When should I restrain a foster child?
Foster parent(s) should always use the least restrictive physical
intervention necessary to control the situation and should contact
the crisis pager if they feel the situation could get out of control.
Note: Physical restraint should be limited to methods identified
in the Youth General Information Regarding Youth Restraints (completed
at intake and reviewed every 90 days).
A-level behavioral management training must be completed in order
to restrain a child. If you do not have this training you are not
permitted to restrain a child under any circumstances. In addition,
children should not be restrained except in extreme circumstances.
If, after you have attempted to use de-escalation techniques, and
when a child is a danger to himself or others, physical restraint
may be necessary. During your initial training, you will learn de-escalation
techniques and may be trained on how to use passive restraint techniques.
Anytime a foster child is restrained in your home, the Case Manager needs
to be notified immediately by the pager or, if during office hours, contact
the office.
Should a foster child need to be restrained, a Life Space interview is to
be conducted afterward. This interview process helps reduce the need for future
restraints and helps develop methods in which you can improve the child's
behavior.
What do I do if a foster child runs away?
If a child runs away, please proceed as follows:
- Initiate a search for the child while making note of the time, direction,
a description of what the child was wearing and why the child might be running
away.
- If the child does not return to your home an hour after he/she is expected,
contact the Case Manager immediately (if the child runs away during office
hours) or the crisis pager (if after hours). If you are unable to reach
your Case Manager during office hours, please ask to speak to the Team Leader
or Program Director. Never leave a voice mail message regarding a runaway.
- The Case Manager or on-call person will instruct you as to how to proceed.
Who can transport a foster child?
A foster child may only ride with a driver who is at least twenty-one years
of age. NECCO must have a copy of a valid driver's license of the driver and
proof of current car insurance. The child must wear a seat belt at all times.
In addition, a background check may be required for individuals transporting
children.
Can my foster child drive?
Most children in our program are not permitted to have driving privileges.
If a child is in driver's training and in the process of acquiring a driver's
license, they may drive only when accompanied by a foster parent or driving
instructor. Participation in driver training must be approved through the Case
Manager and the custodial agency. The child may not operate a vehicle alone
at any time nor may they own a vehicle
Can I take my foster child out of the state?
Foster children are not permitted to travel outside of the state (across river/across
country) unless written permission is obtained from the custodial agency.
If you know that you will be traveling out of the state, please contact your
Case Manager as soon as possible to get proper permission for out of state travel.
What if i need transportation arrangements?
If non-routine transportation is needed, please contact your Case Manager, who
will assist you with these arrangements.
Am I reimbursed for transportation?
Foster parent(s) are not reimbursed for routine transportation. This is included
as the Daily Transportation allowance of a minimum $2.00 per day under the Foster
Parent Reimbursement Contract.
Can foster children operate power driven equipment?
As a general rule, children should not operate any power driven equipment (including
but not limited to four wheelers, boats, go-carts, or lawnmowers).
Permission to operate power driven equipment must be obtained from the child's
custodial agency. If permission is granted, the child must be well instructed
prior to using the equipment and supervised by an adult.
It is your responsibility to ensure that:
- All equipment is maintained in a safe condition.
- Each child must wear steel-toed boots and safety goggles while using a
push lawn mower or string trimmer.
- Steel-toed boots and safety goggles are purchased for the child.
Can I keep a gun or other weapon in my home?
While foster parent(s) are not prohibited from having firearms, explosives and
other weapons in their homes, we strongly discourage this practice. If you do
have these items in your home, they must be kept in a locked compartment. All
ammunition must be stored in a separate locked compartment.
Hunting with foster children is not permitted unless permission is received
from the custodial agency.
What is a behavior card?
The Behavior Card is a document designed to track and chart the behavior of
each foster child placed in your home. This is a tool to assist in programming
for each child. NECCO requires foster parent(s) to observe and complete Behavior
Cards on a daily basis and submit weekly to the Case Manager. Behavior Cards
are reviewed with the Case Manager during home visits for each child placed in
your home.
Behavior Cards are required by the state for the youth's file. It is important
that you provide and maintain up-to-date behavior cards on each child in your
home. We recommend that you spend a few minutes daily to complete the behavior
card so the information you write is accurate, not to mention it makes it easier
to complete. The Behavior Card provides NECCO with valuable information regarding
the child's progress in your home.
What is the foster parent placement contract?
This document provides that NECCO will issue foster parent(s) a per diem payment
for children in their home on a bi-monthly basis.
This per diem is based on the individual needs of each child and includes the
following:
- Daily Base Rate
- Daily Clothing Allowance
- Daily Recreation Allowance
- Daily Transportation Allowance
- Miscellaneous Daily Allowance
In addition to the above, a weekly allowance should be allotted to
the child according to state regulations.
It is important for you to keep good records of what you spend on
the youth.
If you are transporting a youth to therapy or to any other appointments,
your expense would need to exceed the daily allowance before you
request additional reimbursement.
How often am I reimbursed?
Foster parent reimbursements are issued on a bi-monthly basis. In
order to be reimbursed, foster parent(s) must complete payment vouchers
for each child in their home. If you do not complete a payment voucher
and submit it on time, you will not be reimbursed according to the
standard schedule.
Payment vouchers for the 1st through the 15th day of each month are
due in the office by the 17th of that month or the first Monday following
the 17th if it falls on a weekend day or holiday. Reimbursement checks
will be distributed on the last day of the month or the following
Monday if it falls on a weekend day or holiday.
Payment vouchers for the 16th through the last day of each month
are due in the office by the 2nd of the next month or the first Monday
following the 2nd if it falls on a weekend day or holiday. Reimbursement
checks will be distributed on the 15th of that month or the following
Monday if it falls on a weekend day or holiday.
All foster parent reimbursement checks are distributed electronically
from the bank of NECCO's choice. The bank electronically transfers
funds from NECCO's account and then sends a check to you or direct
deposits within 2-3 days of the transaction. It is important to be
patient when awaiting reimbursement. Please allow 2-3 days for check
arrival.
Please remember that foster parent reimbursement checks are not paychecks
or income. You are not a NECCO employee and this reimbursement is
not counted as income for tax filing purposes.
If you have questions concerning foster parent reimbursement, please
contact your local NECCO office.
What if I move?
Foster parent(s) are responsible for notifying NECCO of any change
of address so we may forward documentation and foster parent payments.
Any new residence must pass a safety inspection within 30 days after
a change in residence.
If additional adults move into your home, please inform the Case
Manager and Home Resource Coordinator in the NECCO office immediately.
Notify your local NECCO office and Aleshia Carrico in the Ohio office,
that you have changed addresses or bank accounts, or you will not
receive your payments on time.
What is independent living?
Independent Living prepares a child to eventually leave foster care.
These skills are initially taught by the foster parents through daily
activities and include things like house keeping, self-hygiene, budgeting
and savings, and interpersonal and social skills.
Upon reaching the age of sixteen, most children are provided more
intensive Independent Living education in the form of classes taught
by NECCO staff.
Youth that age out of care, which in most cases the age eighteen
(18), may be eligible to receive transitional living services in
the form of a Bridge Home. Please contact your Case Manager for details.
What do I do if I have a problem with a NECCO employee?
If after a meeting with your local Program Director the problem has
not been resolved, you can contact the
Division Director of the local office nearest you.
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