Posted: 6/6/06
Foster Care fills needs of children
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Foster families play an important role in the lives of children they serve. Their job is difficult; they must be a family to children whose ěrealî families arenít able to provide them with a positive environment. The placement can be for a few days or months, or even a few years.
Carolyn Olson, who is the licensing case aid worker for human services, reports that there are 27 Houston County children in out-of-home placement. Five were ordered into juvenile detention facilities because they broke the law, and the other 22 were placed in foster care because of trouble in their homes.
Most cases are ordered due to abuse and/or neglect, or the parents are ordered into treatment of some sort and their children have no where to go. Sometimes, the children are placed in foster care due to their own behavior and to get a break from their parents. The county has a total of 33 licensed foster care homes.
Olson explained that there are three types of foster care: one is family foster care which is care provided by people who are not related to the child or children being cared for; kinship care, which describes a situation in which a relative provides care. Even though it is a relative, licensing is still necessary if human services is involved. The third type of care is adoptive care, when a family cares for a child that they hope to adopt permanently.
There are also 13 adult foster care homes available that serve the elderly or developmentally or physically disabled adults.
Becoming a foster family
The process of becoming licensed to provide foster care can be a lengthy one. It begins with an informal meeting.
ěI like to meet with them first to see what kind of perception they have. This takes place before they fill out anything,î said Olson. This first meeting can be an opportunity to get the facts about foster care, and some families might realize at this time that itís not for them. If they choose to continue, the next step is to begin the formal application process. A background check is performed on every person over the age of 13. The family must provide a statement of health and references. Then, the home study process begins.
ěThis can be a bit intrusive,î said Olson.
The study looks at a number of factors, including parenting style and the strength of the marriage of the parents in the household.
ěIf there are difficulties, they may not need the stress of another child,î said Olson.
The licensing process can take up to two months.
Profile of a foster parent
People become foster care givers for a variety of reasons, but all have in common the desire to provide a safe, secure place for a child in need. Some foster parents have grown children and want to keep parenting. Some have older children and want to welcome younger children into their homes. If parents had struggles with their own children, they may have developed special skills and understanding that will make them effective as foster parents. Some foster parents were kinship providers and want to continue caring for children as foster parents.
ěOnce they are licensed, we try to match what they are looking for,î said Olson.
There are also families who provide respite care on a short-term basis, either for other foster parents or for birth parents who need a break.
A case worker from human services follows up with the family once the licensing process is completed and a child is placed.
When a child is placed with a foster family, the family is given all the information available about the child so that they can know what to expect in regard to the childís behavior. But in some cases, said Olson, Human Services doesnít have a lot of information itself on the child.
For some foster families, the hardest part of giving foster care is letting go. It is the court that decides when the child can be returned to his or her own home.
ěMost people are concerned about becoming too attached,î said Olson. She noted that while the foster family provides care, human services is still the guardian of the child.
Foster families are paid a stipend based on several factors, including the age of the child, special needs the child may have and the difficulty of care.
ěItís not a wage, but we donít want the family to go in the hole, either,î said Olson. ěItís a realistic thing we have to look at.î
Some people who inquire about foster care are under the impression that it can be a substitute for a job, and thatís a false impression because the pay wonít take the place of a job, Olson noted.
Some foster families are also day care providers and the foster child is able to stay in the home during the day as well, which works out well for those families and the child, Olson said.
But no matter how effective a person is as a foster care provider, reunification is always the goal.
ěItís a difficult balancing act,î Olson admitted. ěThe judge makes the final decision.î
Later this month, human services will have a banquet in honor of the countyís foster care providers. Anyone who is interested in learning more about becoming a licensed foster parent is encouraged to call (507) 725-5811.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com