Foster Parenting:

Foster care for children means the provision of substitute parental child care for those children who are in need of the necessary care and for which the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is unable, neglects, or refuses to provide. Becoming a foster parent can be very intimidating. The task of a foster parent is very demanding job, full of challenges. A lot is expected from the foster parent. Among other things providing for the physical needs of children placed in their home, as well as emotional support and a safe and stable home environment. They should also provide a neat, orderly environment in good condition; a family atmosphere of warmth and acceptance, as well as provide adequate clothing that is age appropriate and in good, clean condition. Provide balanced, nutritious meals three times a day; basic hygiene and personal needs. Foster parents are also expected to work closely with the child's social worker. They are expected to contribute towards the treatment and guidance of the foster child, and work with the social worker to develop goals and encourage the child to reach those goals.

Categories of foster parents:

After the mandatory training, candidate foster parents, have to make a final decision on what type of foster parent they want to be. Candidate foster parents can choose from the following categories:

General or permanent foster parents:
These are defined as persons with or without children, who wish to allocate their home to a child for an indefinite period.

Day foster parents:
When parents cannot adequately raise their child, day foster care can work complementary.
The child is placed in a foster home for a few days in the week. When the situation at home has stabilized, the day foster care ends.

Therapeutic foster parents:
This concerns persons who can assist a child with its psycho-social problems. From these persons an intensive cooperation with experts is expected.

Weekend / vacation foster parents:
Some children in institutes have little contact with their family. For these children it’s important to have contact with a family. These persons take care of the children during the weekend or vacation.

Guest– and emergency foster parents:
It concerns persons immediately available and awaiting a final decision on the child to be placed.

Boarding foster parents:
The accent lies on the care-taking aspect. It especially concerns children of 18—21 years of age who are somehow considered independent. Placement is temporary. Contact with the natural parents remains. Placement is more of a business nature. Since neither a father nor a mother is sought, young families can often provide a solution.

Mental foster parents:
These may be single parents and / or families who cannot have a child at home, but who are prepared to financially assist a child.

Requirements to become a foster parent:

To become a foster parent interested persons have to comply with certain requirements.
The most important requirements are:

• A minimum age of 24 years.

• Must not have a criminal record.

• Must be in good mental and physical health.

• Participation in the foster parenting STAP (Selectie Training Aspirant Pleegouder) Course preparation programs: to prepare you for your task as foster parent(s).

• Stable home situation: placement of a child changes a lot in the home environment. If the attention of the parents is taken up by drastic events, it is not advisable to take in a child. If the situation is temporary, you could start participating in the preparation programs.

• Must have a stable financial situation, among other things, a fixed income, enough to take adequate care of your family and the foster child.

• Must allow a home inspection to determine minimum placement requirements.

Responsibilities and tasks of the Foster Parent:

As a foster parent you have many responsibilities towards individuals and organizations: the child placed in your home, the foster care and guardianship agencies, the child's biological family, the team and your own family.
Your goal as a foster parent is to provide skilled care, discipline and nurturing for any child placed in your home, while serious problems are addressed through treatment interventions. You must operate as a parent, a behavior management specialist, a role model, a mentor, a guide, a protector, a team member, an advocate, a teacher, a mentor of families, and as a caregiver.

The task of the foster parents can be categorized as follows:

The Child’s physical needs:

• Meet the child's basic need for food, clothing and shelter.

• Provide adequate personal space for the child with a separate bed and place to store their belongings.

• Feed the child nourishing meals on a regular basis.

• Regularly check the child's clothing needs and keep the child well clothed year round.

• Provide for the child's personal care, health, and hygiene needs.

• See that the child is clean and well-groomed. Teach personal hygiene methods when necessary.

• Transport the child to all medical, dental and health appointments.

• Assure the child's medical and dental health needs are regularly checked and met.

• Provide adequate supervision on a 24-hour basis. (If you are not present to supervise it is your responsibility to make sure the child is being supervised by an approved adult.)

• Assure that the child follows a healthy, structured daily routine.

• Provide opportunities for the child to get regular and sufficient exercise.

• Administer all prescribed medications as directed.
  The child’s emotional and nurturing needs:

• Provide fair and equal treatment for all children in your home.

• Transport the child to all counseling appointments, assessments, testing and medical management appointments.

• Include the child in all family activities.

• Provide fair and equal treatment for all children in your home.

• Express affection often. Demonstrate affection in appropriate, healthy ways.

• Say positive things about the child to others, or in their hearing.

• Understand and care about the child's feelings.

• Avoid hurtful, sarcastic comments. Do not criticize the child in front of others.

• Listen non-judgmentally to the child's feelings.

• Take pride in how the child looks and presents themselves to others.

• Seek to establish supportive relationship with child's biological family.

• Never speak negatively about child's family or history. Listen and empathize, but do not judge.

• Model effective ways of expressing powerful feelings.

• Help children advance through the grieving and adjustment process that accompanies removal from their home and placement.

• Provide recreational and enrichment activities that will promote the health development of a positive self-esteem.

• Respect confidentiality of the child.

• Respect the personal belongings of the child.

The child’s educational needs:

• Enroll the child in school.

• Provide the child with the necessary school material.

• Provide for daily attendance at school.

• Provide a quiet physical space for the child to complete school assignments.

• Monitor the child's educational progress.

• Transport the child to any educational evaluations and activities.

• Communicate with teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators to ensure your child is participating and cooperating with the school.

• Attend any after school meetings required.

• Provide access to after school activities, sports, etc.

• Provide for necessary equipment and funding to participate in custodian/team approved activities.
  The child’s recreational needs:

• Encourage the child's involvement in social and recreational activities.

• Provides transportation, equipment, and funding to engage in custodian/team approved activities.

• Encourage the child to develop hobbies, skills, talents, and personal interests.

• Applaud their achievements.

Teaching/discipline tasks:

• Provide consistent and realistic discipline and guidance that is age appropriate and does not involve corporal punishment.

• Teach the child effective social interaction skills.

• Teach the child how to respond in difficult situations.

• Teach problem-solving skills.

• Observe, count and record behaviors as requested by clinicians, specialists or social workers.

• Use effective praise techniques to encourage positive behavior.

• Teach negotiation skills to the child. Demonstrate these skills at all times of conflict between you and the child.

• Teach the child effective time management and how to be responsible for their own lives.

• Teach effective anger management skills. Reinforce those taught by foster care and guardianship agencies. Demonstrate these skills at all times of conflict.

• Document behaviors effectively.

Working with the Foster Care and Guardianship organizations/Team:

• Attend all Foster Families Center and Family Guardianship meetings and participate fully.

• Provide adequate information regarding the child's progress, behaviors at home and school to the Family Guardianship/team.

• Notify the Family Guardianship or case worker immediately in all emergencies.

• Transport child to activities, meetings, appointments, etc.

• Submit all requested documentation in a timely manner.

• Discuss important status changes in your family with the Foster Families Central and Family Guardianship (such as job change, separations, divorce, illness, financial stability, etc.).

• Participate in planning for the child—permanency/guidance plan, treatment, options, etc.

• Implement suggested behavior management plans from professional therapists, social workers, etc.

• Cooperate and support other Foster Families Center and Family Guardianship/team members' roles and responsibilities.

• Communicate effectively with Family Guardianship/team members so the child clearly understand the role of the various authorities in his/her life.

• Adhere to the Family Guardianship/team policies and procedures.

• Effectively use emergency procedures.

• Recognize when you need help or support and request this support from the Foster Families Center (in case of support for the Foster Parent) or Family Guardianship (when it regards the foster child) team.

• Notify the Family Guardianship/team of any vacation or holiday plans. Allow adequate time for custodial approval and preparation.

• Meet all training requirements. Identify to the Foster Families Center/team where you feel you need additional training and support.

• Attend support group meetings, such as the Foster Parents Platform.

Working with the biological family:

• Provide a supportive, non-judgmental attitude of respect at all times.

• Work with the biological family as an extension of their family rather than an alternative to the family.

• Model effective discipline techniques.

• Model professional team behavior.

• Model effective negotiating, conflict management and anger management skills.

• Be willing to listen to their story, needs.

• Cooperate fully with phone calls and visitations as prescribed by the Family Guardianship/team.

• Respect confidentiality of the family.

• Provide information, pictures, school data, report cards, medical records, etc. to the family.