FROM PLAYERS TO PARTNERS: States are looking for ways to attract and keep more foster parents as caseloads increase.

AuthorWilliams-Mbengue, Nina
PositionFOSTER CARE

On any given day, 437,000 children are in foster care in the United States. Nearly half are living with a foster family. Although the overall number of children in the system is down 25 percent from a decade ago, it's up since last year.

Since 2012, the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on families has created an urgent need for foster parents in communities across America. The added strain comes at a time when many foster families are already chafing at policies and restrictions they say can sometimes make a tough job even tougher.

Vital but Undervalued

Foster parents are key players in the child welfare system, but they rarely feel like true partners. Among their many responsibilities, they must be prepared to address kids' physical, social and emotional needs after what, for some, may be a traumatic removal from their home; enroll them in school; provide them a safe and healthy environment; navigate their visits with biological parents and siblings; get them to and from counseling sessions; and manage their normal daily activities.

Yet, foster parents often say they have too little input in the decisions made for the kids in their care. They criticize agencies for providing little or no information on the physical, social and emotional status of their children. They are often left out of planning sessions or are not asked for their opinions. They worry that their training is inadequate to handle severe cases. Promised respites and mentors are often not provided, nor are caseworkers available to answer questions or offer guidance when needed.

For some, it gets to be too much, and in fact nearly half of parents quit in their first year of fostering. As a result, most child welfare agencies struggle to find and keep a steady number of qualified parents.

What can legislators do? To attract and retain more willing foster parents, child welfare experts recommend that states develop better ways to support them.

Giving Parents a Voice

For many years, foster parents have advocated for their needs, and lawmakers in 18 states and the District of Columbia have responded with "bill of rights" laws. They vary by state, but the measures typically ensure that, among other things, foster parents are treated with respect; receive complete information on children's social, emotional and educational needs; receive fair payment; can refuse a placement; have access to respite care and adequate training; can contact a child welfare agency 24/7; receive...

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