UNDERSTANDING FOSTER CHILDREN

Understand Foster Children Being removed from home has a massive impact on children, regardless of their age. How trauma of separation manifests itself depends on the age of the child and their stage of natural development. Younger children, infants through to children of early school years, will exhibit a wide variety of common behaviors and health concerns. All of which are directly attributed to separation anxiety. Often behaviors can commonly be seen across all age groups and are not exclusive to younger or older children. Behaviors and symptoms in young children (aged from infant to 9 years) are... http://www.power4parents.org/fosterchild.htm Cognitive: § Disassociation and detachment § Startling easily § Lowered school marks § Unusual imaginative play § Memory problems § Lack of concentration § Distorted perception of self § Educational issues § Learning difficulties § Developmental issues § Fussiness § Hyper-vigilance § Excessive worry § Confusion § Feeling powerless § Intrusive thoughts and images § Over-protectiveness § Clumsiness Emotional: § Nightmares § Disturbed sleep patterns § Anxiousness and anxiety § Unstable emotions § Clinginess § Lack of empathy § Shyness § Unusual phobias or fears § Excessive crying and irritability § Fear of sleeping alone § Avoidance § Fear of authority figures § Suffering flashbacks § Repetitive self-stimulation § Anxious in unknown environments § Anxious around strangers § Oversensitivity § Withdrawal § Difficulty being soothed Behavioral: § Bed wetting § Deliberate disobedience § Thumb sucking § Bullying § Refusal to communicate § Guilt and/or self-blame § Destructiveness § Fear of being left alone § Anger and combativeness § Defiance § Rebellion § Verbally abusive § Physically abusive § Regression § Re-enactment through play § Avoidance § Fear of the dark § Withdrawal from friends § Seeking solitude Physical: § Constantly recurring cold and flu symptoms § Loss of appetite § Dermatological skin conditions § Joint or limb pain § Nausea § Headache and dizziness § Developmental issues § Stomach aches § Restlessness § Irritated bowel Behaviors and symptoms in older (aged from 10 to 18 years) children are... Cognitive: § Disassociation and detachment § Lowered school marks § Memory problems § Lack of concentration § Poor judgment § Negative point of view § Trouble thinking clearly § Indecisiveness § Heightened reaction to stimuli § Helplessness § Repetitive questioning § Hyper-vigilance § Nervousness § Excessive risk-taking § Talk of retaliation Emotional: § Nightmares § Disturbed sleep patterns § Anxiousness and anxiety § Unstable emotions § Lack of empathy § Unusual phobias or fears § Low self esteem § Sense of loneliness and isolation § Depression § Suicidal thoughts § Attention seeking § Demanding reassurance § Appearing dazed or trance-like § Obsessive compulsive § Anger and rage Behavioral: § Bed wetting § Deliberate disobedience § Bullying § Refusal to communicate § Guilt and/or self-blame § Acting out § Deliberate isolation § Sexual promiscuity § Substance abuse § Teeth grinding or jaw clenching § Regression § Rebellion § Verbally abusive § Physically abusive § Argumentativeness § Judgmental § Stubbornness § Repetitious play § Oppositional § Delinquency § Truancy Physical: § Constantly recurring cold and flu symptoms § Loss of appetite § Dermatological skin conditions § Self harming § Dermatological skin conditions § Headache and dizziness § Insomnia § Weigh loss or gain § Nervous habit (EG: nail biting) § Disrupted menstrual cycles § Shaking or shivering § Tic § Restlessness § Increase in conflict Recognizing Grief and Trauma in the Foster Child: It is extremely important to acknowledge and identify trauma in the fostered child. Children do not enter into the foster home environment free of trauma. It is barbaric to assume that they would. Even the most severely abused child who has been placed into a foster home will be suffering separation anxiety due to their removal from the parent whom they still love despite the abuse and the trauma of being placed with complete strangers. It is also important for parents to realize that when their child is finally reunified back into the family home, a certain degree of trauma will be exhibited by their child because that child has bonded with the foster family and is again being uprooted. Having a new foster child in the family home will pose many challenges until the child feels safe enough and comfortable enough to settle into their new environment. Recognizing that the child is traumatized plays a huge role in being able to support the child and help them work through their grief and succor them. Upon a child entering foster care, immediate priority must be given to easing the trauma the child will be experiencing. Of course the child needs to be assured that they are in a safe environment and needs to feel loved and cared for, but if immediate emphasis is not placed on supporting and succoring the traumatized child failure to bond with the child is already beginning. It is also important to distinguish between genuine trauma and a concern that may warrant a notification to DoCS. For example, when a new foster child comes into the home, it does not necessarily mean that the child is re-experiencing something that Mum or Dad did or said simply because the child is having nightmares... Such an event may actually be a nightmare caused by the child being removed from their family home. Or, if the child says that they are scared of a parent may actually be simply because said parent played monster games with them in fun and pretended to be the monster chasing the child in fun. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Christy Obie Barrett A Family for Every Child Founder and Executive Director christy@afamilyforeverychild.org Linzy Munger A Family for Every Child Associate Director (541) 343-2856 linzy@afamilyforeverychild.org Nora Sharp Matching Assistance Coordinator (425) 449-3509 nora.sharp@afamilyforeverychild.org A Family for Every Child (541) 343-2856 (877) 343-2856info@afamilyforeverychild.org The term "special needs" is applied to any condition that may make it harder for a child to be adopted. Kids with special needs may have a mental, physical, or psychological problem. Children in foster care comprise some of our most medically at-risk and vulnerable children. As the result of various circumstances, including poor prenatal care, maternal substance use, and erratic past medical care, these children may have significant unrecognized or under-treated illnesses, immunization delays, failure to thrive, and dental caries. Mental health concerns secondary to removal from the family unit are also common. Developmental delay that is secondary to one of the above risk factors or the result of parental deprivation occurs in about half of all children who are less than age three when they enter foster care. Levels of Childhood Vulnerability: There are 4 levels of childhood vulnerability to trauma... Level 1... The child who has direct exposure to the traumatic event... The victim. Level 2... The proximity of the child to the event resulting in them almost becoming a victim, but remaining a witness. Level 3... The child who was within hearing or sight of the event, but did not witness it. Level 4... The child who was outside the event, but has been exposed to the event via media or conversation. Levels of Childhood Vulnerability: There are 4 levels of childhood vulnerability to trauma... Level 1... The child who has direct exposure to the traumatic event... The victim. Level 2... The proximity of the child to the event resulting in them almost becoming a victim, but remaining a witness. Level 3... The child who was within hearing or sight of the event, but did not witness it. Level 4... The child who was outside the event, but has been exposed to the event via media or conversation. Beware of the Pitfalls! § Don't assume that all children will respond to therapy in the same way. § Don't pathologies early distress or reactions. § Don't convey the message that the experience of trauma leads to long-term psychological damage. § Don't assume that all children exposed to trauma will require professional psychological intervention (but recognise that some may). where a traumatized child has little choice If you have any additional questions feel free to contact me any time! Linzy Munger A Family For Every Child Associate Director (541)343-2856 www.afamilyforeverychild.org

Protecting kids through transparency

How are Washington State's foster kids doing? Thanks to the 10-year-old Braam class-action settlement, we can all find out.

Today, foster children are less likely to be shuttled between multiple homes during their time in the foster care system. They are more likely to be visited by their social worker at least once a month. If they have a brother or sister, they are less likely to be separated — and more likely to keep in contact with that one person in their lives who represents stability and normalcy. This is evidence of positive change in Washington State’s child welfare system.
Yes, the child welfare system is at a crossroads — a big component of the Braam class-action settlement that stirred things up 10 years ago is nearing an end. The settlement created a five-member independent accountability panel, which set measures to track the progress of children in foster care. While not all of the measures have been fully achieved, the Children’s Administration at the Department of Social and Health Services has met a number of key Braam settlement measures despite experiencing substantial funding and staffing cuts since 2009.
But the transparency required of the Children’s Administration will not vanish just because the panel goes away. In fact, the system will be more transparent than ever before due, in part, to House Bill 1774, sponsored by Rep. Roger Freeman.
The bill, now signed into law by Governor Inslee, directs a university-based child welfare research entity, like Partners for Our Children (POC) based at the University of Washington, and DSHS, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to measure key outcomes for children and families in the child welfare system.
Every quarter, state agencies will provide comprehensive data to POC, which will then make data available to the public through an easy-to-navigate, online portal. Eventually, case workers, legislators, media and even the next door neighbor, will know how the system is working, or where it has work to do — statewide or by county. Some of this information has been and will continue to be available through state websites, but the portal provides the ability to look at data trends over time in a number of different areas.
It is in everyone’s best interest to continue to strive toward the original goals of the Braam settlement — ensuring the health and safety of foster children in our state through stability, permanency, mental health, education, training and support. It is just as important to continue to make gains to how families and children are served before children come into foster care. HB 1774 focuses on all of these areas. The work that the Braam oversight panel did, in collaboration with the Children’s Administration and the Braam plaintiffs’ attorneys, to develop and track measurements will be key in informing how to measure child outcomes in the future.
So while the court-mandated accountability panel has gone away, its legacy of transparency lives on through HB 1774. In effect, the outgoing five-member panel will now grow to include every citizen in our state — if we need the data, we’ll find it on the online portal or on the state’s websites. We all play a role in improving the outcomes for children in the foster care system.
Reporting results to the public on a regular basis is a big step towards transparency and accountability. The DSHS Children’s Administration, Columbia Legal Services and Partners for Our Children are committed to the health and safety of all vulnerable children in Washington State. We’ve seen that progress has been made over the last decade, but there is still work to be done to ensure children and families are being served as we all intended.
We all agree that the ultimate goal is for every child to thrive, including those in foster care. Continued transparency will be critical to reaching this goal, and HB 1774 will help us build upon this legacy.

OREGON RETURNS MORE KIDS HOME.....BUT????

A Family For Every Child would like to thank you for believing that every child deserves a family. Your support has enabled A Family For Every Child to make a difference in the lives of our children in foster care. Because of your support, all of our programs have been busy serving children in foster care and families going through the adoption process. We hope you will find the following information helpful in understanding why we all need to work together. Oregon Returns More Foster Kids Home -- But... Audit Finds Risks in High Workloads, Limited Resources From KTVZ SALEM, Ore. -- A recent state audit found that while the Department of Human Services’ Child Welfare Program returned children home at a higher rate than the national average, high caseloads and limited services to parents may prevent children in foster care from returning home, the secretary of state said Tuesday. Auditors suggested the agency consider some strategies to help case workers with the challenges they face. “The recommendations provided in this audit will help remove barriers that prevent children from reuniting with their families,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “As a former juvenile law attorney I find Oregon’s rate of reunification, while above the national average, unacceptable. Oregon can do better. I remain committed to finding ways to give children and families the services they need.”The Child Welfare Program is responsible for removing children from their homes when their safety is threatened. The department also tries to return these children to their homes or primary caregivers whenever possible.According to federal data, about 29% of about 13,000 children in foster care in Oregon went home, compared to 22% nationally. However, they found this success is threatened by high caseworker workloads and tight program funding. Certain caseworker tasks deemed critical for safely returning children home were not occurring at adequate levels and, in some cases, were not occurring at all. Most noteworthy were inadequate parent-child visits, decreased efforts to engage parents, and limited resources to address parents’ mental health, substance abuse, and housing issues. State auditors observed several district practices that, if explored further, could increase return rates. For example, the Department’s Klamath County Office has a visitation center located away from the child welfare office, which can provide a less stressful environment for parent-child visits. Auditors recommended central management consider assigning a central office program manager dedicated to returning children home who could help set priorities and provide better direction and caseworker support. Auditors also recommended consideration of assigning some administrative tasks caseworkers now perform to support staff.“We conducted on-site work in five of Oregon’s 16 districts and saw their challenges. The audit outlines strategies that can help. Our intention is to offer helpful recommendations to caseworkers, and return more children to their families,” said Audits Director Gary Blackmer.The audit report, including the agency response, can be found at www.sos.state.or.us/audits. From all of us at A Family For Every Child, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It is only through the generosity and support of community members like you that we are able to make a real difference in the lives of our children in foster care. Together we can find a family for every child.

TEN TIPS FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF PLACEMENT

The following are ten tips for the first year of placement from Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA. 1. Spend time participating in nurturing activities. During your first year of your placement, it is important to create a trusting relationship with your child. Engaging in lots of nurturing will help you succeed in building your relationship. Limit the amount of time you have to spend away from your child. Avoid leaving your child to go on overnight trips during the first year, unless you are in need of respite care. Make sure all of their needs are met. Instead of making your child more dependent through this nurturing, you are actually helping them become more trusting. A secure, trusting child knows that he/she can try new things, but come back and rely on you when they need a safe place. 2. Teach children to play with you. Many children in foster care have lost out on the opportunities to enjoy playtime, especially with their parents. Set aside at least a half hour everyday to play with your child. This shared activity will help you and your child bond, and create lasting memories. If your child has a hard time staying engaged or expresses fear, take it in small steps and participate in activities that both you and your child will enjoy. 3. Talk to your child. Talk to your child using a bright, emotional tone. Explain what you are doing, or point out things on your drive or at the store. In doing so you are conveying information about the world around him/her. Use your fingers to point out important things. 4. When toddlers or older children have behavior problems, use your body to stop them. Be gentle, consistent and predictable when you are stopping negative behaviors. Avoid using "over the shoulder" or "across the room" directives. Do not tolerate kicking, hitting, or biting. It's important to teach your child appropriate boundaries from the start. 5. Get enough sleep, good food, and exercise to stay in a good mood. Practicing self-care is vital not only to your relationship with your child, but also with the rest of your family. You will feel more rested and engaged to help your child with their needs since you have taken care of your own. 6. Be part of an adoption support group. Everyone needs someone to care for them and look out for them when they need it. Joining a local support group will provide invaluable support and advice from families who have experienced or are experiencing a lot of the same things you are. Having a strong network of family and friends is also important. 7. Keep a calm, but interesting home. Children who come from homes of abuse and neglect are lacking in stimulation. The child's brain does not build the neurology to process lots of sensory stimulation, leaving a child feeling overwhelmed, anxious and frustrated. Keep a predictable and consistent plan whenever possible to help your child adjust to their new life and avoid becoming anxious about possible changes in routine at first. 8. Explain to children basics of your relationships as they gain language. Tell your child that as their parent, it is your job to love and protect them. It may seem obvious to you, but your child may need some reassurance. 9. Do watch for signs of an exclusive attachment by the end of the first year. But don't have this landmark set in stone. Be flexible. Just because your child is not completely bonded with you after their first year in your home doesn't mean that you have failed as a parent. Look for signs of exclusive attachment, such as seeking you out to play, for affection, and for attention. Your child should be excited to be with you, and want to spend time with you. If your child is exhibiting any of these signs, you are making progress! Remember that attachment is a process, not an event. Consider the first year as mile marker of you getting to know your child a little better. 10. Enter your little one’s space—positively. Get down on their level and make eye contact, be patient, and try hard. Do not use punishment to build relationships. Be strong, dependable, and available to your child. For more information, visit Ten Tips for the First Year of Placement on Deborah Gray's site. Deborah Gray specializes in the attachment, grief, and trauma issues of children in her practice, Nurturing Attachments. Her methods of working with children and families reflect her strong developmental and infant mental health perspective. Her passion is to help families develop close, satisfying relationships. She has worked 20 years in children’s therapies. Nora Sharp Matching Assistance Coordinator A Family for Every Child nora.sharp@afamilyforeverychild.org