The Twelve of Ohio, Inc.
FOSTER PARENT
HANDBOOK
Revised: August 31, 2007
Revised: February 27, 2009
Revised: April 20, 2010
Revised: May 19, 2010
Revised: June 11, 2010
Board Approved: June 29, 2010
Board Effective Date: June 29, 2010
Revised: August 4, 2014
Board Approved: September 30, 2014
Table of Contents
Twelve of Ohio, Inc. Mission and Philosophy Page 3
Working as a Team Member Page 4
Preparing your Home Page 4
Smoke Free Environment Page 5
How to set up House Rules Page 5
Discipline Pages 5, 6, 7, 8
Record Keeping Page 8
Medications Page 8, 9
School and Community Responsibilities Page 9
Transportation Page 10, 11
Medical Appointments Page 11
Family Visits Page 12
Legal Issues Page 13
Rule Violations & Corrective Action Plans Page 13
Clothing Purchases Page 13, 14
What to do when a Child Leaves Page 14
Emergency Procedures Page 14, 15
Children’s Rights Page 16
Signature Pages Page 17, 18
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide an integrated array of easily accessible services to children, their families and the community in the least intrusive manner consistent with their needs.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
The Twelve of Ohio, Inc., recognizes the inherent dignity of the individual child within the larger community of people.
The Twelve, Inc. recognizes the healing and nurturing environment of the family as the best means to achieve healthy social integration.
When a breakdown occurs in the family structure or with an individual youth, it is the responsibility of and in the best interests of, the community to insure that such breakdowns do not create permanent social handicaps.
The Twelve, Inc. offers its resources to prevent permanent breakdowns, when possible, to provide services when they occur, and to support families in their efforts to provide healthy social integration for their children.
Working as a Team Member
As a foster parent you are part of a team of people who will be working towards a series of agreed upon goals for each child placed in your home. As an active team member your responsibility is to actively participate in all phases of the plan for the child in your home. Your social worker at The Twelve is your source of information and support at all times. Help and advice will be available to you at all times. You will have a way to access assistance from The Twelve when you need it. You will have weekly visits from your social worker to discuss progress, yours and the child’s. One of the biggest mistakes new foster parents’ make is not discussing problems until it is too late. No placement is one hundred percent perfect. No one will be judging you or counting mistakes. Our staff has access to a great deal of experience in childcare and can offer suggestions based upon your unique situation.
When you receive a request from the custodial agency regarding the care of a child placed in your home it is a good idea to notify your Social Worker at the Twelve and share this information. Don’t assume that the custodial agency has contacted us as the county worker often contacts our families without our knowledge. It is the responsibility of our agency to take the lead role for the care of all children placed in your home so effective communication is crucial to accomplishing our job.
Preparing your Home for Fostering
This may sound like a silly topic but there are certain things that may be overlooked in the excitement of getting a child for placement. During your home study and licensing process we went over the requirements of the State. These are things above and beyond the requirements that we have learned over the years.
ü Make sure you have a proper child seat for your car.
ü Get a lockable file cabinet and place it in a lockable room.
ü Make a room or place for recreation that you can supervise. DO NOT put the video game on the T.V in the bedroom.
ü Get some extra sheets and towels. Include a plastic sheet for possible bed wetter.
ü Get some file folders and labels from office store.
ü If fostering small children protect electrical outlets with flat plugs.
ü Get some quick easy to fix food for emergencies placements. Kids are almost always hungry.
ü Contact your accountant and get some advice on financial record keeping.
ü Think ahead about protecting your valuables. Car keys, credit cards, jewelry, etc.
ü Lock up medications.
Smoke Free Environment
The Twelve of Ohio, Inc. foster homes are a smoke free environment for children. Rule 5101:2-7-12 states:
1. No smoking shall be permitted in the living area of a foster home or in a vehicle used to transport a foster child when a foster child is present.
2. Smoking may be permitted in the home or vehicles used for transporting foster children only when no foster child is present.
The Agency has accepted the opinion of the Surgeon General that smoking is the largest preventable cause of illness and premature death. Therefore, The Twelve does not permit smoking in its facilities, in or around main entrances or exits of its facilities, or in agency vehicles or during any interaction with agency clients.
House Rules
House rules are an important part of your family life and an important learning tool for your new foster child. DO NOT make the first impression with your new foster child by reciting the rules within the first hour of their arrival.
Keep your rules to a minimum and simple. Make expectations clear, and all consequences reasonable, and within your control. Remember that many of our placements come from chaotic situations and may not be used to or accepting of our rules. You may need to show a child how to perform their chore first. Do not assume that they know how to clean properly or make a bed, etc.
Remember that in general chores have two functions: First to contribute to the healthy and efficient running of the house and second to teach responsibility and skills to the child. Special chores may serve as a consequence for behavior, but sometimes can backfire. Paying extra for extra chores can teach a child the work ethic.
Discipline
State regulation and Twelve of Ohio, Inc. policies prohibit all forms of corporal punishment. Many of our children are victims of physical abuse. Discipline at home is often inconsistent, violent, mixed with drugs and alcohol, and done in anger. As foster parents we recognize that discipline is the cornerstone to a responsible childhood. It is therefore necessary for us to employ non-judgmental, consistent discipline in a calm manner. Children raised in chaos will not know what to expect from us for a while. At home they may have gotten away with outrageous behavior but have been severely punished for innocent behavior. It will take time to teach children that discipline has two purposes, 1.) To eliminate disruptive behavior, dangerous or problematic, for the child. and 2.) To teach the child respect for authority and to control his/her own behavior. Most discipline is effective when done in close order to the behavior. However, there are circumstances when waiting is appropriate. If you are angry, calm down first before imposing a consequence that is too severe or not effective.
DO NOT threaten severe punishments such as; the police will arrest you, you are going to the Detention Home or things for which we have no control. Threatening to have a child removed from your home as punishment is not good discipline and is a violation of foster parent standards.
The Twelve of Ohio, Inc. requires all foster parents to complete Crises Intervention and De-escalation Training. This will help small problems from becoming major blowups. We also will provide several training workshops on discipline throughout the year. Proven techniques such as “assertive discipline” are useful and available to you as foster parents.
For Example:
1. A child is acting out verbally or physically
a. Use your CBPI de-escalation techniques (the agency only uses the CBPI training curriculum for de-escalation techniques). The Agency prohibits the use of any type of restraint.
b. Call your Twelve of Ohio Social Worker or on call staff
c. Call police if there is a danger to child or others
d. Make notes of incident on behavior log.
Foster Caregiver Discipline Rule
Any person caring for or having supervision of an agency Foster child shall abide by the requirements of 5101:2-7-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
(A) A foster caregiver shall treat each foster child with kindness, consistency, and respect.
(B) A foster caregiver shall not discriminate in providing care and supervision to foster children on the basis of race, sex, gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, religion, color or national origin.
(C) A foster caregiver shall provide humane, instructive discipline appropriate to the age and functioning level of a foster child.
(1) Disciplinary methods shall stress praise and encouragement for desired behavior rather than punishment.
(2) All rules and expectations made by a foster caregiver shall be explained to a foster child in a manner appropriate to the child's age and understanding during the child's initial orientation and prior to any disciplinary action for violations of such rules.
(3) A foster child shall not be punished for actions over which the child has no control.
(4) A foster child shall not be punished for bed-wetting or in the course of toilet training activities.
(D) A foster caregiver shall not subject a foster child to verbal abuse or swearing; to derogatory remarks about foster children and their families, races, sex, gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, religion, color or national origin; or to threats of physical violence or removal from the foster home.
(E) A foster caregiver shall not use any of the following practices for a foster child:
(1) Physical hitting or any type of physical punishment inflicted in any manner upon the body including but not limited to spitting, spanking, paddling, punching, shaking, biting, hair pulling, pinching, or rough handling.
(2) Physically strenuous work or exercises, when used as a means of punishment.
(3) Requiring or forcing a foster child to take an uncomfortable position, such as squatting or bending, or requiring a foster child to repeat physical movements when used as a means of punishment.
(4) Denial of social or recreational activities for excessive or prolonged periods of time, as defined by the agency.
(5) Denial of social or casework services, medical treatment, or educational services.
(6) Deprivation of meals.
(7) Denial of visitation or communication rights with the family of the foster child as a means of punishment.
(8) Denial of sleep.
(9) Denial of shelter, clothing, bedding or restroom facilities.
(F) Physical restraint of a foster child shall only be utilized by a caregiver who has received specific training and annual review in acceptable methods of restraint. Documentation of such training shall be contained in the foster home record.
(G) Physical restraint may be used by a caregiver when there is an imminent risk of physical harm:
(1) For self protection.
(2) For protection of the child from self-destructive behavior.
(3) To protect another person from a foster child.
(H) A foster caregiver shall use only the least restrictive physical restraint necessary to control a situation. A foster caregiver shall not use any device to prevent or restrict movement as punishment or for convenience.
(I) If physical restraint is used, a foster caregiver shall:
(1) Notify the recommending agency immediately following the use of physical restraint.
(2) Submit a detailed written report to the recommending agency within twenty-four hours following the use of physical restraint.
(J) If the foster caregiver notifies the recommending agency that the caregiver used physical restraint, the recommending agency shall:
(1) Notify the placing agency (if different) within twenty-four hours of the receipt of the detailed written report of the use of physical restraint from the caregiver.
(2) Place a copy of the written report of the use of physical restraint from the caregiver in the foster child's record and in the foster caregiver's record.
(K) A foster caregiver shall not use any form of prone, chemical or mechanical restraint on a foster child.
(L) Any act of omission or commission by a foster caregiver or other member of the household which results in any of the following toward a foster child may be grounds for the denial or revocation of a foster home certificate:
(1) Death.
(2) Injury.
(3) Illness.
(4) Abuse.
(5) Neglect.
(6) Exploitation.
(M) Any recommendation to revoke the certificate of a foster caregiver may be made by the recommending agency supervising a foster home or the Ohio department of job and family services.
(N) Concerning the hygiene needs of a foster child, the foster caregiver shall:
(1) Ensure that:
(a) Each foster child's clothing and footwear shall be clean, well-fitting, seasonal and appropriate to the child's age and gender identity.