This year, the theme for National Foster Care Month is “Honoring, Uniting, and Celebrating Families.”
As acknowledged in President Obama’s official proclamation, the fact that there is a need for foster homes highlights many societal issues that require attention.
There is work to be done to strengthen and support birth families to prevent abuse and neglect, thereby reducing the number of children in foster care. Training and support for foster parents and child-serving agencies is also needed. Foster parents must be able to accept and care for children who come from tumultuous backgrounds, as well as to honor and encourage reunification with birth families. Placement in well trained and supported foster homes can increase the likelihood of reunification with birth families.
In addition, foster parent training and support programs promote stability of foster placements and increase the availability of permanent resources if reunification does not occur. Child Services staff who work with these children and their birth and foster families must also receive appropriate training and support to enable them to continue this emotionally draining work.
Finally, careful planning for older children in foster care is needed to ensure they have natural supports and adequate resources for a successful transition to independent living.
heARTbeat is a publication of KingSpry’s Adoption Law and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.
