Families+with+Foster+Children

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 * Families With Foster Children
 * Foster parents create safe environments for children.
 * Foster parents accept children into their homes and care for them.
 * Foster care is intended to be a temporary living situation for children.
 * Foster families are not meant to be permanent replacements for biological families.
 * In some situations, foster parents eventually adopt foster children in their care,

>> experience homelessness
 * = Common Problems ||
 * Foster children have higher rates of health problems
 * Children are removed from situations with complex problems such as neglect, abuse, homelessness, and parental substance abuse
 * The situations may result in behavior problems, PTSD, poor school achievement, and anxiety
 * = Statistics ||
 * Placements have tripled in the last 20 years
 * Minority children are overrepresented in foster care
 * By the year 2020:
 * More than 9,000,000 children will spend some time in foster care
 * More than 300,000 children will age out of our foster care system, some in poor health and many unprepared for success in higher education, technical college or the workforce
 * 99,000 former foster youth, who aged out of the system, will


 * = Characteristics of Successful Foster Parents
 * Stable,
 * Mature
 * Dependable
 * Committed
 * Flexible
 * Enjoys children

Qualifications to Become a Foster Parent •Must like children Older than 21 •Reliable source of income to meet your family’s needs •Good health and free from communicable diseases • Sufficient living space in your home for a child • Complete and pass state and FBI criminal background checks • No record of child abuse or neglect ||
 * = Problems Students May Have In School ||
 * Education is very important for the success of foster children
 * Foster children have high rates of low school achievement and school failure
 * Children may be one or more grades behind
 * High absence and tardiness rate
 * High risk of dropping out of school
 * Behavior problems
 * Children may test authority
 * Poor attention
 * Poor work study habits
 * Disproportionate number in special education

 Teaching Suggestions
 * = What Can Teachers Do? ||
 * Create stable environments
 * Help children feel safe and welcome
 * Treat foster children the same as other children
 * Do not delay responding to the needs of foster children
 * Help the student to understand the classroom and the expectations
 * Determine academic needs
 * Reinforce strong social skills
 * Teach goal setting, problem solving, and organization
 * Create relationships with foster parents to facilitate their involvement
 * Keep the foster parents informed
 * Ask the foster parents about the child's health, special needs, problems and interests
 * Use behavior management, self-management, and natural consequences for neglected or abused foster children
 * Create a structured, predictable environment
 * Give the foster child individual attention
 * Do not ignore inappropriate behaviors
 * Use interventions to address the child's behavior
 * Prevent bullying and teasing
 * When teaching, represent all types of families
 * Read books about the different types of families
 * Do not use activities that foster children cannot participate in (Example: baby pictures)
 * Help the children develop relationships with adults who care about the child (Teachers, relatives, foster parent, teacher aide, counselor)

Books to read to children: Links  Sources [| http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/foster_families.html] [] [] [] []
 * =  Resources for Parents and Teachers ||
 * //The pinballs//
 * By: Betsy Byars
 * //Ellen Foster//
 * By: Kaye Gibbons
 * //Great Gilly Hopkins//
 * By: Katherine Paterson
 * //The Lost Boy: A foster child's search for the love of a family//
 * By: Dave Pelzer
 * [|American Foster Care Resources]
 * [|Casey Family Programs National Center for Resource Family Support]
 * [|Child Welfare League of America]
 * [|Connect for Kids: Guidance for Grownups]

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