About 10 years ago CFSF worked with our state to create a receiving care program that would help with placement of first time foster children. The general idea was to have skilled foster parents willing to take these children 24/7. These foster parents understood the trauma and fear children have when first entering care and made an extra effort to make children feel safe and loved. Receiving care foster parents were also sensitive to these children having incidental needs whether clothing, hygiene or even toys. It was also felt that children being placed in these homes would be best served if the foster home were in the child’s community. It is strongly believed that school continuity, community connections and potential reunification will be best served if children remain close to their origins.
Once a receiving care placement is made, we will look to these special foster parents to do the following when at all possible:
· Have foster children screened for medical and dental needs
· Work with schools to keep children stable – it may become necessary for these homes to transport children to their school of origin
· Transport children to visitation with bio-family when beneficial to the child
· Help the social worker and CFSF workers by documenting strengths, challenges, behavioral needs and family interactions (within their home)
Special Receiving care is a dynamic program in which children are placed for up to 30 days (these placements may be extended). It is not for every foster parent and does require extra effort and skill. Foster parents are often provided little information as these children are new to care and need to be assessed for safety, cognitive and emotional concerns.
We are proud of this program and the outcomes it has produced. Hundreds of children have successfully returned home or to family members, others have moved into long term care and some have even gone on to be adopted. It is a commitment to unique challenges and often rewarding outcomes. This group plays a big part in helping children during a stressful and challenging part of their lives. Some special receiving care foster parents have bonded with the children placed with them short term and decided to give them permanency. This too is welcomed and a wonderful outcome from this program.
Mark