Partnerships in fostering: a newsletter of the Georgia DHR Foster Care Unit, Summer 2001

GA

Partnerships H'Ceo . ,:-~

1' I pu



d-ool / Sv1M(""IPI

1n

g

in this
Preparing for the School Year

Obtaining

A NEWSLETTER OF THE GEORGIA DHR FOSTER CARE UNIT
ore Sup
for Children

Some Tips for Supervision
Getting Needed Respite Care
Not Punishing Kids Physically
summer

The basic foster care rate only stretches so far. In counties throughout Georgia, DFCS agencies and foster parents successfully partner in persuading their communities to give children extra help. You can, too.
"It's hard for foster parents to afford everything kids need, like school clothes and supplies, field trips and band instruments," emphasized Bob Pollock, DFCS field director of 11 counties in middle Georgia. "In high school, kids' needs are neverending - rings, sports equipment, prom gowns and tuxes."
Pollock offered the following suggestions for how foster parents and DFCS can band together in involving communities:
Approach your county and city commissions, civic and other clubs, and other local organizations: "Every county is different. Think about what resources are in your county, such as a college or military base. You can contact anything from the Exchange Club to a bicycling club, then help them think about ways they might help. A department store might donate school supplies. A high school club might do a car wash to raise money. The Bass Club might agree to take kids fishing."
Plan ahead and be specific: "You can't go to a city commission or business and just say kids need funds. Before they'll consider contributing support, they need to have a clear picture of how their contributions will be used. That means you

need to do some planning before contacting people, to decide what the top priorities are for your community's kids. Write them down to give to people to review and think about."
Be persistent and persuade: "They probably get lots of requests for support, so don't expect just to ask and receive. County commissions are flooded with requests for everything from paving roads to economic development. You'll probably need to go back several times before
they might say yes. Be polite, but sell your idea, not just state it. For instance, look for comparisons, maybe by talking to the DFCS agencies in nearby counties. Then you can say, 'County X does this for their kids, but we don't.' Say how many children in your county are in foster care, and courteously emphasize these are not DFCS children but are our community's children and need our support."
Be personal: "To stand out from others requesting support, you need to do more than just send a letter. You need to make personal contact. Go to the commission meeting to speak, or find out who to talk to at a business and make an appointment to meet with them. Invite local elected officials and business leaders to your foster parent association meeting or banquet. They need to know who you are and what you stand for. If funds or other assistance is granted, be sure to follow up with thank you notes or go to a meeting to say thank you in person."

Communities often offer extra help, when asked.

Preparing for
the ew School Year

Summer is the time for parents to begin preparing children so the upcoming school year will be as successful as possible. Libby Bell, special education and preschool coordinator for Paulding County schools, offered the following tips on how to do this.

Begin at Home

Encourage reading: "Reading is the best single thing parents can do to help a child academically," Bell said. "Children who usually don't like to read may discover they enjoy reading books or maga-
zines about their hobbies or interests." Within reason, Bell recommends letting them read anything they enjoy, so they develop an enthusiasm for reading that can turn into a general enthusiasm for school and learning.

Set up a study area: Some children have school problems because they cannot organize themselves and settle down to concentrate on studying. Pick an area of your home that can be kept free from distractions while the child studies and where the child's books and supplies can be kept. Having their own calendars helps older children begin learning about scheduling.

Encourage commu-

nity activities: Local

Summer is the time for foster parents to begin preparing for school.

park departments, churches and libraries offer programs which

are fun and educa-

tional. A child's partici-

pation in group activities helps a foster parent

2

notice any problems the child has with social skills

that might keep the child from being successful in a classroom setting.
Prepare for New School Settings
To help a child prepare for kindergarten, foster parents should talk with the child about what he or she will do at school. Visiting the school and meeting the teacher as early as possible may reduce a child's anxiety about going to "big school." Bell recommended getting a copy of a blank kindergarten report card from their child's school or at the board of education. Showing this to the child will give an overview of what is expected in kindergarten.
"Fifth and eighth graders may act out because they're afraid of going to middle and high school," Bell pointed out. "The summer before fifth and eighth grades is not too early to begin preparing students for those transitions. To reduce their fears of a new school, let them visit their future school building, talk to students who already go there and get an idea of what the schedule is like. That way they don't worry all year long about going to a strange, new school."
Prepare for Middle School
Bell warned, "The change from elementary to middle school is especially difficult. Middle schoolers change classes and have bigger homework loads. Teachers give much less help in organizing assignments. Foster parents can assess their child's organizational skills and ability to function independently by noticing how they handle some added responsibilities at home and by talking with them about how they'll keep up with assignments. If it's obvious the child will need extra help, they should talk to the teacher, counselor or principal before the school year starts and make sure there are some extra supports in place. If the year starts off well, children will feel less frustrated and will be more successful."
Prepare for High School
If a high school student from outside the county comes into a foster parent's care during the summer, the parent should have transcripts evaluated by the school counselor so a class schedule

Tips for Supervising Kids

can be set up that will allow the child to get the credits he or she needs to graduate. Bell recommended, "During the summer, call the local board of education to ask how best to get in touch with the school counselor or principal. Before the school year begins, if the right person to talk to isn't available, ask about his or her e-mail address, since some personnel check e-mail from home. If you can't connect with him or her during summer, make sure you have a name and number to call the first day of the school's pre-planning."
Foster parents should talk about graduation with any high school student in their care. Ask if he or she has enough credits toward graduation, is preparing for the graduation test and knows what is required for admission to college or vocationaltechnical school. If he or she does not know the answers to these questions, discuss how to find out. As mentioned above, it may be possible to get in touch with school personnel over the summer. Colleges and vocational-technical schools are open during summer to discuss admissions requirements.
Partnerships
In
Newsletter Production Supervisor: Jayne Bachman
Editorial Committee Members: Kathleen Rinehart and Doris Walker
Writer/Editor/Publisher: Dan Corrie
Writer: Ellen Corrie
Desktop Design: Dara O' Neil
Do you like this newsletter? Do you have ideas for how it could be better? Send your comments to:
Jayne Bachman DFCS Foster Care Unit, 18-222 Two Peachtree St., NW Atlanta, GA 30303-3142 404 .657.3570

Many foster parents wonder how much they should supervise children. Much about children's past histories is unknown when they enter care, which makes it difficult for foster parents to predict how a child might act in different unsupervised situations. Thus, to safely supervise, foster parents need to become educators, safety specialists, monitors and coaches. This may sound scary, but this article provides some common-sense tips.
Following is a series of steps foster parents can adapt to fit many situations and different children's needs, developmental levels and prior histories. Suppose your 12year-old foster son, Mark, asks permission to ride his bicycle to his friend's house in the same subdivision. Mark is a great kid but has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and mild mental retardation. Until now, you have not allowed him to bicycle unsupervised. How can you and your case manager decide if he is ready to safely navigate the neighborhood?
Step 1: Decide what skills are necessary, especially for safety. For example, does Mark know how to stop and look both ways at intersections? Does he wear his helmet?
Step 2: Practice necessary skills. An adult should follow Mark in a car or on bicycle when he practices riding around the neighborhood.
Step 3: Roleplay possible challenges. For example, roleplay with Mark what he would do/say if a stranger asked for directions.
Step 4: Have a safety plan. An adult should call when Mark arrives at their house and when Mark departs to return home. Every child in care should have an ID card with his/her name and the foster family's name, address and telephone number.
Step 5: Allow a trial privilege. if Mark achieves the necessary skills and
the safety plan is in place, he should be permitted a trial privilege in which you set the rules and time limits, choose the route, and give him permission to go.
After you and Mark have completed Steps 1-4, review his achievements. If Mark was successful, congratulate him on his new skills. If he failed a task or step, he needs to practice that skill until he has demonstrated his competency. Because Mark has attention and learning challenges, he may need to practice his new skills in small steps and repeat those steps many times.
As mentioned, these steps can be adapted for different children. For example, Mark's foster sister, Sarah, also wants to earn the privilege of riding her bike to her friend's house. Although she is 10 (two years younger than Mark), she has no developmental delays. She has asthma and multiple allergies, especially bees. The above five steps will be basically the same for her, though Sarah's foster parents may need to consult with her physician to explore her safety needs related to asthma and allergies. She may need to carry a bee sting kit and an inhaler. Parents at her friend's household will need to be made aware of her possible medical challenges and be taught emergency procedures.

Respite
is Necessary

Not Using ical Punishment

focus on discipline

Foster parents need respite care to renew themselves,
says Elizabeth Bryant.
4

Foster families need "respite care" - in other words, someone else to look after their children for a while. Hopefully, they can find such help among their friends and family. Also DFCS has limited funding to pay for respite care.
Sometimes in foster homes the buildup of tension can lead to real problems, such as disruptions (when the family asks the case manager to take a child to a different foster family) or families feeling so frustrated they decide to stop fostering. A key reason for such tensions is sometimes foster families simply need just a little time apart from their children, to regroup and relax perhaps for a few hours, an afternoon or a day.
Fi nding O ngoing Res pite
Foster families and case managers should not wait for such tensions to build to crises. Instead, foster families, with their case manager's help, should work on putting in place their own informal, ongoing system of respite care. For example, a foster parent's mother or trusted neighbor might be willing occasionally to babysit, or two foster families might agree to take turns having the
other's children over for sleepovers or bringing each other's children along with their own for afternoons at the park.
When a family needs respite care and has no one to help them out, DFCS has limited funds to pay for approved respite providers in their com-

munity. Also if foster parents know someone in their community whom they would like to have as a paid respite caregiver, they should talk with their case manager to begin the DFCS approval process, which includes a criminal background check to ensure children's safety.
"A good choice for a respite provider might be someone the foster parents already know, such as someone in the parents' neighborhood or church," explained Elizabeth Bryant, manager of the DFCS Placement and Resource Development Unit. "Respite care will be more successful with someone the children know and who knows the foster parents' routines in dealing with the children's needs."
Signs to Look For
Bryant emphasized, "When foster families have trouble finding friends and family members to provide informal respite, case managers and the parents need to keep in touch so they can recognize when respite care is especially needed. Foster parents often give their case managers signals that their frustration is building."
Case managers should be alert to recognize the following signs that a family is probably in special need of respite care:
A foster parent makes no positive comments about a child and says things such as, "I don't know anything else to do with this child."
A child tends to be visibly out of control.
A child is having a negative effect on the entire home; for example, the child requires so much of the parents' supervision, the other children are beginning to act out - the entire family seemingly becoming increasingly less orderly and more upset.
A foster parent is tired all the time, has trouble keeping up with appointments, and the children are taking on more responsibility.
"Fostering isn't easy, and foster parents need to avoid getting overwhelmed," said Bryant. "If parents don't know how to find respite, they should ask their case manager to help them think about options, including the availability of funds for paid respite."

Foster parents must not use physical punish-

Also it is known physical punishment does not

ment for legal and practical reasons, according to produce long-lasting

Elizabeth Bryant, manager of the DFCS Placement changes in children's prob-

l and Resource Development Unit. Foster parents are legally forbidden to use

lem behaviors, Bryant emphasized, noting, "Often these children have never

physical punishment by a legal agreement called a "consent decree." This 1989 decree resulted from a law suit filed on behalf of a girl who was injured and fell into a coma while in foster care, eventu-

been taught appropriate ways to meet their needs. In their family of origin, the only way they knew to get

ally dying. DFCS discipline policy should have been described during MAPP, where all foster par-

attention from their birth family may have been to act

ents sign an awareness statement that they will

out. If we tell them not to do

not use physical punishment. If this did not occur, they should contact their county DFCS director or

that anymore, we need to give them something with

case manager.

which to replace that. These

Beyond legal issues, physical punishment can children need foster parents

be traumatic for children in foster care, many of not only to help them know

whom were removed from their families because what type of behavior is not

of physical abuse. Bryant urged foster parents to appropriate, but also what

think how their use of physical punishment

is. Punishment doesn't teach

would seem to such a child, noting, "These kids this, but discipline does. Forms of discipline such

assume adults can't be trusted not to hurt them. as time-out or a reward system often don't pro-

They can even try to provoke a physical response duce quick results, but using such discipline

from foster parents, testing them until they're sat- methods is how foster parents fulfill their roles as

isfied these adults are different and can be

healers and teachers."

trusted."

Physical pun ishment does not dea f with the real causes of a child's behavior.

New Conference!

With Severe Needs

To learn more about helping children with severe emotional needs, foster parents and case managers are invited to a new conference on August 22-24 in Savannah. "The First MATCH Family Reunion" is sponsored by MATCH (MultiAgency Team for Children), a state program which provides residential treatment services for children with severe emotional disturbances.
"We're calling the conference a 'reunion' because we see everyone who works with kids as part of a family, whether or not they're directly connected with MATCH," explained Amy Hale, DFCS Treatment Services Unit program consultant. "The conference will help us all learn how we can better serve kids and families."
The reunion will offer keynote addresses, as

well as morning and afternoon workshops on a wide variety of practical topics, including medications used to treat children; attention deficit and attachment disorders; developmental disorders; grief and loss; children's self-mutilation and suicide; substance abuse treatment; conflict resolution and mediation; and many others. Representatives from a range of state agencies and programs will explain their services and how to access them.
The registration fee ($95, $75 early bird) includes breakfasts and lunches. CEUs (continuing education units) will be available. Registration information will be available beginning June 30 through Care Solutions at 770.642.6722.

For more info, contact Care Solutions after June 30:
770.642.6722
www.caresolutions .com

Summer afe
Tips!

Foster parents should take summer safety pre-
cautions.
For info about free metro-area YMCA swimming lessons, contact Christine Wilde

Summer safety issues for children are important for foster parents to consider, emphasized Katherine Otto, statewide healthy child care coor-
dinator with the Division of Public Health.

min Safe

"During the school year, children most days have a lot of adult supervision," Otto explained. "But once school is out, parents need to take seriously that their kids have much more free time to do things that could be harmful to them. Too, summer has its special safety issues."

Early swimming lessons are crucial for safety. Metro YMCAs offer free swimming lessons to children in foster care. For further information, contact Christine Wilde at 404.267.5335. Also weekly or biweekly swimming lessons for approximately $50 are offered by 206 state parks.
Children should not swim if overheated, chilled, tired or immediately after eating. They should stay away from the water during storms. Before allowing children to dive, check to make sure the water is deep enough. Non-swimmers should stay in shallow water. Children under 8 should always have an adult with them, even at a pool with a trained lifeguard. Never let a child go
in a pool where others swim if heI she has a fever
or had one within 24 hours, green mucus, diarrhea or a suspicious illness. Babies should be in a swim diaper, covered with plastic pants with elastic around the legs and tummy. Children need to take a 10-15-minute break every hour to avoid fatigue

that can lead to drowning. IMPORTANT: Foster parents should ask their case managers for specific DFCS water safety policies.
un
Over one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., with most people receiving the majority of their sun-exposure prior to age 20. Light-skinned people are particularly vulnerable, but anyone can get it. To protect children, have them wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 whenever they go outside. Since Georgia is so hot and humid, use waterproof/sweatproof sunscreen. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it at least every two hours. Children under the age of six months should be kept out of the sun entirely.
Bites and stings, such as those of mosquitoes, ants and bees, can cause redness, itching and swelling. Apply ice packs to the bite area. To relieve itching, apply calamine lotion, and tell children not to scratch. Remove a stinger, if possible. If the child is faint or having trouble breathing, seek medical attention. Use insect repellant sparingly on older children and never on infants. Minimize the risk of bites and stings by having children wear shoes.
Small, reddish-brown ticks with white spots on their backs carry the potentially fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When entering the woods or a grassy areas, keep clothing buttoned, tuck trouser legs inside boots, wear long sleeves and apply insect repellant to clothing. On camping trips, inspect the child for ticks at least twice a day, especially armpits and neck. Remove ticks with heavy oil, fingernail polish remover, gasoline or alcohol, allowing it to stand for a half hour then dislodging the tick with tweezers, washing the area and applying antiseptic. See a doctor if the following symptoms occur: loss of appetite or sick feeling one or two days after being bitten, headache, fever, rash, pain behind the eyes, eyes sensitive to light or joint and muscle pain.

6

Frequently Asked Questions

About

are''

Many foster parents wonder if a child in their care is eligible for a "level of care" (LOC) special per diem (a financial allowance additional to the base rate provided for all children in foster care). Many foster parents know this extra funding is for children with extreme needs but are unsure about the details, which is why Gayle Whitney, DFCS Treatment Services Unit program consultant, answered the following frequently-asked-questions about LOC:
How difficult is "difficult?" "Sometimes foster parents feel frustrated because they hear LOC special per diems are for 'difficult' children, and they know a child in their care is very demanding. Yet all children come into care from difficult situations of abuse or neglect and removal from their family. We know all our foster parents are working hard caring for much more demanding children than kids from more stable situations, and they do an incredible job. But Georgia's LOC funds are very limited and need to be used for those children throughout the state with the most extreme needs."
When is a child eligible? "To receive an LOC special per diem, the child has to be in DFCS custody in either a DFCS or private child-placing agency's foster home. The child has a diagnosed medical or emotional/behavioral problem for which he / she receives services - the child is medically fragile or severely emotionally disturbed. Foster parents may also be providing specialized care requiring training, such as using heart monitors or feeding tubes. The special per diem is usually approved for six months to a year and may be raised or lowered over time, depending on the child's changing needs."
How long does the process take? "The county DFCS carries out and reviews the LOC application process then sends the application to the state DFCS in Atlanta. Once it's in Atlanta, we try to process the application as quickly as possible, but it takes up to 30 days. County DFCS agencies can request a child receive a temporary emergency LOC special per diem. For this, the county DFCS submits a memo to the state DFCS, and the turnaround is usually one to two days, and these emergency per diems are usually for 30 days while DFCS continues processing the LOC application. Such emergency per diems are

approved based on the severity of the child's need and necessary services, such as if the child is discharged into foster care from a hospital or mental health facility with an acute medical or emotional/behavioral condition."
How can foster parents help? "Foster parents sometimes feel frustrated the application process isn't faster. Case managers - especially new ones learning the process - will appreciate their patience and understanding that the process is time consuming. Also foster parents can do a lot to help with the application's documentation. Foster parents need, for example, to keep track of the number of appointments the child has and the time and distances involved. Parents in rural counties have to drive long distances, and parents in metro Atlanta can spend a lot of time in traffic. Do they spend 15 minutes twice a day assisting the child in doing exercises for physical therapy? Do they prepare a prescribed diet for the child? Are they following a psychiatrist's behavioral management plan? Ifthey document things like these in the LOC application, it helps the review committee understand the amount of effort the child's needs require."

Georgia's children with the most extreme needs receive LOC special per diems .
7

Foster Care
Georgia Department of Human Resources D iv isi o n of Family and Ch ildren Ser v ices
Suite 18-222 Two Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303-3180

What the ew State Budge Means for You

The new budget supports Georgia's child welfare efforts, says Wilfred Hamm .

The increases in the state budget care per diem to an age-based grad-

for DFCS show that foster parents

uated rate: $12.75 per day for infants

and case managers are appreciated, to 5-year-olds; $13.50 for ages 6-12;

according to Wilfred Hamm, director $14.25 for ages 13-18; additionally

of the DFCS Social Services Section, providing each high school graduate

commenting, "This budget is evi-

with $200 for reimbursement of

dence the Governor and legislature graduation expenses

realize the tremendous job they do. We should all be encouraged that the state wants to give us more of the tools we need to help children and

$4.3 million to provide respite care for 1,600 foster families to prevent disruptions in foster placement

I

families."

$1.6 million to develop four per-

The budget includes the following (in rounded-off amounts):

manent training centers throughout the state

$7 million to increase salaries for CPS and placement staff

Decisions on how money will be divided among counties will be made by State DFCS Director Juanita

$3.5 million to hire 70 additional Blount-Clark and a committee,

case managers and 30 supervisors

based on such factors as population

$7.l million to increase the foster growth and county needs.