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Cooperation, Receptivity, and Access to Services

A relative caregiver's receptivity to education and intervention significantly affects the child. For some relative caregivers, access to medical, psychological, and educational services may not have been as critical in raising their own children as it is for a special-needs child, and therefore they may be unfamiliar with how to use community resources and unaccustomed to asking for assistance. Further, some relatives have difficulty acknowledging substance abuse on the part of persons close to them. They may perceive substance abuse as a "moral failure" and may wish to keep family problems private, considering involvement with professionals to be stigmatizing. Other relative caregivers may have histories or backgrounds of their own that they do not wish to discuss, and thus the involvement of other agencies may be viewed as intrusive or threatening. Relatives who are more accustomed to privacy may be confused and overwhelmed by the comprehensive assessment process. However, because a relative's willingness and ability to work with agencies can be critical to the child's health and safety, it is important for professionals to assess the following:

Does the relative only give "lip service" to being cooperative with agencies' service/treatment plans, or does the relative demonstrate appropriate follow-through?

Is the relative able to share concerns and problems related to the child's placement as they arise?

Does the relative have access to transportation and a telephone? Is there access to medical resources? What arrangements can be made in the case of an emergency? For some children with special needs and equipment, the presence of a telephone and access to transportation may be lifesaving.

Assessment of Foster Parents

At times, foster care placement may be required. In order to identify services that are required to meet the child's needs in foster care, the foster parents' attitudes towards the birth parents, caregiving, perceptions and expectations of the child, receptivity to services, and family supports should be carefully evaluated.

Attitudes Toward Birth Parents

The foster parents' feelings and attitudes toward birth parents greatly influence reunification and case management services. Professionals should explore the following:

What is the foster parent's attitude toward alcohol and other drug abuse? Does the foster parent believe that chemical dependency is treatable? If foster parents have a hopeless and punitive attitude toward substance abusers, this can negatively impact a child's feelings about his/her parents as well as the child's own self-esteem. This attitude also may affect a foster parent's willingness to cooperate with the visitation plan.

What is the foster parent's attitude about having contact with parents who have a history of substance abuse? Is the foster parent fearful for his/her own family's safety? Does the foster parent feel able to set limits on parental behavior when necessary? Eliciting and evaluating a foster parent's concerns can help the professional in determining whether visitation schedules and locations need to be modified or whether, instead, more guidance and education for the foster parent are indicated.

Is the foster parent appropriately supportive of the relationship between the chemically involved parent and child? Does the foster parent respect the biological family's cultural/religious beliefs? This is a critical area for evaluation because a foster parent's ability to work with chemically involved parents will have an impact on reunification plans and can affect how children feel about themselves and their families of origin. When there are concerns about a foster parent's attitudes toward biologic parents, professionals may need to increase their own involvement with the foster parent as well as facilitate referrals for further education and guidance for the caregiver.

Caregiving

Because some children in chemically involved families have special medical or educational needs, it is critical to assess the foster parent's ability to care for special-needs children. Professionals need to consider the following:

If the child has had prenatal alcohol or other drug exposure, has the foster parent ever cared for a prenatally substance-exposed baby? If not, is the foster parent willing to attend training programs or work with professionals to acquire the necessary skills?

If the child has special needs, is the foster parent able and willing to keep multiple appointments, or do the needs of other family members in the home make this too difficult? Does the foster parent have access to necessary pediatric and subspecialty care, or does the foster parent need advocacy and referrals for such services?

Perception and Expectations of the Child

The foster parents' observations of the child can help professionals determine the need for health, developmental, or educational services. In addition, foster parents' perceptions and expectations can greatly affect the quality of care provided. Because there is much misinformation about children from chemically involved families and often much uncertainty about how a child's vulnerabilities may manifest, it is important for professionals to determine the following:

Does the foster parent have concerns about the child's health or development? Foster parents may observe previously unrecognized conditions that may require further evaluation.

Is the foster parent able to identify the child's positive attributes? Are expectations age-appropriate? Are difficult behaviors personalized? When there are difficulties in these areas, a foster parent may require counseling and education to help him/her find strengths within the child, understand the dynamics that underlie the child's behavior, and learn how best to help the child with these problems.

Tags: Child Abuse

About the Author

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Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.