Children enter out-of-home care through OCS for child protection reasons, meaning a child has been abused, neglected or abandoned by her/his parent(s) or caretaker(s). When OCS assumes legal and physical custody of a child for child protective reasons, OCS is granted the authority to make placement decisions for the best interest of the child, until the child can safely return home.
Abuse and neglect can cause trauma and deep emotional and behavioral scars in children. Children need a family that understands the impacts of this trauma. When children and youth in care are separated from their families and familiar surroundings, they will need extra support from the resource family in adjusting to a new home. Children also need to know that you respect their love for their parent(s) and other family members, and that the resource family will support their continued visits and involvement with their parents and extended family members.
Some children come into care through DJJ for community protection reasons. These are juveniles involved in the court system for breaking the law. Their parents may not be able to supervise them or a child may be transitioning from a youth correctional facility into a community and needs to be in a state-supervised home while this transition occurs.
While rare, other children are in care because of a voluntary placement by their parents. Parents may be unable to care for their children because of
A successful match between the child and the foster family will make all the difference in a child’s life. It may be helpful for the foster family to understand what is considered when a child is placed in a specific foster home.
Relatives: Relatives are considered as the first placement option for a child. Children do best when in surroundings that are familiar to them. Relative caregivers provide the best opportunity for children to remain with their family in familiar surroundings and routines. When relative caregivers are not available to care for a child, a child will be placed with non-relative care providers.
Placing Siblings Together: One of the most important and lasting bonds for children is the bond with their siblings. This bond is considered second only to their bond with their parents. Placing siblings together lessens separation trauma, eases the stress on their parents, and reinforces the importance of family relationships. When considering placements for siblings, priority is given to families who will take all of the children in the sibling group. Determination for placing siblings in separate foster homes is made by the child’s assigned worker and is based on what is best for the children. Resource parents are not able to select one child in a sibling group over another.
Cultural Background: When a child cannot reside with a relative, a foster home is asked to assist the child in maintaining connections to the child’s culture. Approximately 60% of the children that reside in out-of-home care are of Alaska Native heritage. The child’s Tribe is notified when a Native American child is placed in out-of-home care.
All of a child’s experiences and what he or she has learned from his or her own culture will affect how that child adjusts to the foster home. Resource parents need to be able to respect and accommodate the child’s culture. Resource families should seek services and resources within their community to keep children connected to their cultural heritage while in out-of-home care.
Extended family members can often be great sources of information and support for the child and to a foster family while the child resides in out-of-home care. The child’s Tribe may assist with identifying resources for resource families to assist with maintaining cultural connections.
When you are contacted about taking a child into your home, ask some basic questions to help you decide if this child will be a good match in your home. The child’s assigned worker may not initially have all of the information but may be able to get it after the placement. For example, a contact plan may not be established for several days into the placement, or the full extent of a child’s medical needs may not be known at the time of placement.
The assigned worker is responsible to provide you with information necessary for you to provide appropriate care for the child. This includes any medical or behavioral history that is known about the child. The information you receive will assist you in making an informed decision regarding the placement of the child in your home.
You have the choice not to take a child if you feel the child would not be compatible with your family. You should not accept a child into your home if this would cause your home to exceed the age range or number of children allowed on your foster care license. If you are asked to take more children than your license allows, contact your licensing worker.
The answers to the following questions will help you decide if a child will be a good match in your home and if you are able to meet the child’s needs.