What is Foster Care?
The dictionary offers the following definition of "foster":
"To help to grow or develop; stimulate; promote, and to afford, receive, or share nourishment, or sustenance, although not related by blood." A foster parent is "one who performs the duties of a parent to the child of another."
In many ways a foster parent resembles any other parent who works to understand and love a child. Foster parenting is not a lifetime commitment to a child, but a commitment to make a meaningful difference during a child's lifetime.
What is Therapeutic Foster Care?
Necco sees it as:
A time to help some children relearn. This time learning good habits in a nurturing but structured environment.
What Makes a Good Foster Parent?
Foster parent(s) should be good problem solvers who are committed to children, realistic in their expectations, and flexible in their approach to children.
Each foster family needs to be committed to any child placed in their home. They should have realistic expectations for the children in their care and be accepting of a child's potential and any limitations they may have. They need to be flexible and demonstrate problem-solving skills to address family and child-rearing issues. Finally, foster parents should include children in family activities to help make the child feel like a part of a family.
The best advice for being a good foster parent is to talk with the child and do things with them. Many foster children have not had the opportunity to have an adult really listen to them or to talk about problems with an adult. Often, parents confuse listening and talking with agreeing to poor behavior. Parents can disagree with poor behavior (and hold children accountable for the poor behavior).
Plan family events that include everyone. Play games together, watch television together, talk together, and make each child feel as though they are a member of your family.
What Should You Expect From Necco?
As an agency, we try to provide the best possible quality of life for foster children and the best possible support services to the foster parent(s) responsible for their care.
In addition to the emotional rewards of helping a child in need, foster parent(s) receive bi-monthly reimbursement, specialized training, respite opportunities and various supportive services.
What Are The Responsibilities Of Necco Foster Parents?
First and foremost, we ask that each parent actively participate in the lives of the children placed in their homes.
Responsibilities:
Incorporate the principles of Nicholas Hobbs
Provide all of the daily living needs including nutrition, clothing, shelter and physical care
Focus on the safety and health of the child as identified in the Special Health Precautions policy
Nurture and accept the child as part of the family
Provide supervision for the child
Provide routine transportation for children - meeting the guidelines set forth in the Necco Transportation Protocol
Vehicle Safety Inspection statement (included on sign off sheet that parent signs for foster parent handbook agreement)
Provide structured daily routines and introduce skills for independent living
Maintain the child's confidentiality and rights as named in The Youth Rights and Responsibilities Policy
Assist the child with understanding the Youth's Rights and Responsibilities if they have questions
Establish Household Rules for the child
Comply with Necco Policy and Procedure as it pertains to foster parents
Comply with state and federal regulations concerning foster parenting
To provide opportunities for religious observance in the faith of his/her choice
Make every effort to meet the cultural needs of the child placed in your home. Plan at least one diverse cultural experience per month for youth to participate in. Examples of these can be attending festivals, restaurants, movies or museums. Make the events something that can be fun for all of the family to enjoy, and learn something about another culture and to deepen the child's understanding of his/her own culture (because cultural needs of youth is NOT the same as cultural diversity even though they need that too.)
Use Common Sense
Understand the Grievance Procedure for Youth and ensure that the child has access to the information if needed
Ensure the child's confidentiality while in your home
Make sure you and the child placed in your home understand Necco's smoking policy
Keep accurate records in your Home File for you and the child to access as needed
Be familiar with the Continuous Quality Improvement process by participating ion Foster Parent surveys, focus groups or other methods to gain information to improve the quality of services
What are the initial training requirements of a therapeutic foster parent?
Orientation
CPR & First Aid
Safe Crisis Management
Cultural Diversity
The core-training curriculum as dictated by state requirements
These requirements are set by the state. If you have any questions regarding foster parent training, please contact the Home Resource Coordinator in your local Necco office.
How Many Hours of Training Does a Foster Parent Have to Complete Every Year?
Each foster parent is required to receive initial and on-going training every year. The year is measured by each foster parent's initial certification date. Exact number of training hours differ depending on licensure/accreditation and state requirements.
Each year foster parent(s) are required by law to provide Necco with:
Valid driver's license(s)
Current home or renter's insurance and auto insurance
Animal inoculation for each pet
TB tests
Medical exams on all family members (annually for all family members)
A background fingerprint check (State)
An abuse check
Nurses aid check
An FBI check (if you live in a bordering county to another state, or if you have lived in another state at anytime during the year)
The certification and recertification requirements are subject to change according to state or federal regulations, accreditation regulations or agency regulations.
Foster homes are inspected at the time of certification and recertification. In order to continue to foster, the home must pass the safety inspection at the time of recertification. As part of the recertification process, foster parents are asked to complete a recertification questionnaire and participate in joint and individual interviews.
What Services Will I Receive From Necco Once A Foster Child Is Placed In My Home?
Necco provides weekly in-home case management, a 24-hour on-call crisis pager, assistance with obtaining individual services for children such as therapy, respite care, regular training opportunities, and support to foster families as needed.
Should you decide to adopt, Necco can assist you with the paperwork and on-going supervision of the child. See your Case Manager.
What information can I share with others regarding the foster child in my home?
All information you receive or hear about a child is considered confidential. This means that you cannot discuss anything (the child's background, previous placements, health or mental health information, educational information, or any other personal information) with any other person (including family members) outside of Necco unless you have received written permission from the child's state worker. Please consult with your Case Manager if you have questions about with whom you have permission to discuss a child's personal information.
How Do I Proceed In Medical Or Other Emergencies?
If there is a medical emergency involving a child in your care, call 911 or take the child to the emergency room. Do not call Necco first. If there is a behavioral crisis with a child or an emergency after hours, call the pager first. If the crisis is during work hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.), please call the office and ask to speak with your Case Manager or another member of his/her team.
If a child in your care threatens to commit suicide, first ask the child if he or she has ingested anything as an attempt. If the child has taken any pills or ingested toxic substances, immediately contact 911. If the youth has cut him/herself, apply emergency first aid, and take the child to the nearest hospital emergency room. In either of these cases, contact the Case Manager or the 24-hour crisis pager (if after work hours), immediately after contacting 911 or taking the child to the hospital. Should a child talk about suicide, but has not acted upon it, contact the Case Manager or another member of his/her team.
What Is The 24-Hour Crisis Pager?
Every foster parent receives our crisis pager number. We ask that you only use the pager for crises or emergencies. Do not use the pager for routine questions or to report that a child is doing well. Those calls should be made to the office during regular business hours.
The following instances warrant calling the crisis pager:
Runaways
Suicide Attempts or Threats
Criminal activity
Dangerous or highly unusual behaviors or tantrums
Serious injuries or medical condition
Restraints
What Is Respite Care?
Respite is time-out for foster families and children. It is a time period during which foster children are removed from your home and placed in another certified foster home. Respite allows the foster family and the child time to regroup and have a rest. It may be requested by the foster parent or deemed necessary by the agency. Respite care can last a matter of hours or a number of days, depending on the situation.
The respite provider must meet the same qualifications as foster parent(s). Therefore, only other certified foster parent(s) can provide respite. Talk with your Case Manager if you believe you need respite care.
Can Foster Children have Overnight Visits with their Biological Parent(s) or Others?
Some children are permitted to have overnight visits with biological family members. Visitation rules differ with each child's individual case plan. It is the foster parent's responsibility to know what the youth's service plan says about their biological visits. During each Service Plan meeting, home visitations will be discussed as to who the child may stay with and transportation arrangements.
Never allow a child to stay outside of the foster home overnight without prior permission from the Case Manager.
What Is The Nature of My Relationship With a Necco Case Manager?
Foster parent(s) and Case Managers work together to provide services and support to children. You should have regular contact with your child's Case Manager and work hard to keep the lines of communication open. Always contact your Case Manager when you have an issue, question, or concern about a child in your care.
You should contact the Program Director or Clinical Director if you are not having regular contact with your Case Manager.
Foster parents are not considered employees of Necco, therefore are not entitled to employee benefits. Monies received for caring for foster children is intended to be a reimbursement and not compensation.
What Is The Process For Placing Foster Children In My Home?
Necco receives information about each child placed in our care. This information comes in the form of a referral. The referral includes information about the child's age, developmental needs, education needs, sibling relationships, and social and legal history.
When deciding where to place a child, we try to match each child's needs with a foster family who can best meet those needs. We try to place children in a home where they will have a successful experience.
When the Necco staff attempt to place a child in your home, we first contact you to provide you with information about the child.
Who Pays for Clothing For Foster Children?
When children initially come into care, some of them need clothing and others do not. If a child needs clothing, the child's Case Manager will determine how much clothing is needed and Necco will provide an initial clothing allowance.
After the initial clothing allowance, the foster family is responsible for purchasing all clothing. A portion of the foster parent(s)' daily per diem serves to reimburse foster parent(s) for clothing purchases beyond the initial clothing allowance. An initial clothing inventory is completed to identify clothing the child comes into care or into your home with. Any new clothing purchased on behalf of the child should be added to the clothing inventory periodically.
What Responsibility Do I have For A Foster Child's Medical Needs?
As a foster parent, you are not financially responsible for medical care for your foster children. The entity having custody of the child is responsible for payment. Most children in foster care have a medical card. Very few children have private insurance. If a child does not have health insurance, the Case Manager will work with the custodial agency to obtain insurance for the child.
Health and Mental Health Screenings
Each child who has not had a health screening conducted 30 days prior to entering care must have a Health Screening conducted by a Health practitioner within 48 hours of entering care. The purpose for this is to protect you and identify any communicable diseases the child may be carrying. In addition, each child needs to have a mental health screening (if not already seeing a mental health professional) within 30 days of entering care.
Each child is expected to have a physical, dental and vision examination on a routine basis and at least once a year. It is your responsibility to transport your foster children to these appointments.
When scheduling medical appointments please remember the following:
Make sure the doctor or clinic will accept the child's current medical card prior to making the appointment.
Always pay with the medical card.
Non-routine care may require pre-approval from the state agency or worker. Check with your Case Manager if any questions arise concerning non-routine medical care or issues regarding the medical card.
Check with your Case Manager if you have any questions concerning medical care for a child.
What if a Foster Child in my Home Takes Medication?
Prescription Medications:
It is your responsibility to ensure that a child receives his/her medication.
All medication must be kept in a locked compartment and only removed when administered. Medications must be returned to the locked compartment after they have been taken.
Foster parent(s) are given medication logs for children in their care. It is your responsibility to keep the individual medication log current.
Talk with your Case Manager about any concerns you have regarding prescription medication for a foster child.
Prescription medication can only be discontinued upon written order of the physician. Even though you believe a child may not need a particular medication, use cannot be discontinued unless ordered by a physician.
It is possible for a child to be removed from a home in which there is question concerning misuse of medication.
Non-prescription Medications:
Use common sense when deciding to give non-prescription medication to the foster child. Check with the youth or the Case Manager to make sure the child does not have any history of allergic reactions to the over-the-counter medications.
Make sure to follow the instructions and dosage suggestions.
Non-prescription medication must be kept locked in the same manner as prescription medications.
All medication administered to a child should be added to the medication log.
Should I Have An Emergency Medical Plan & First Aid Supplies in My Home?
Each foster home should also be equipped with a basic first aid kit. In case of an emergency, call 911 or take the child to the emergency room. Then contact the Case Manager or the crisis hotline for additional support.
Keep an updated list of emergency phone numbers located by the telephone and on your refrigerator. Your list should include:
Police, 911
EMS
Fire Department
Physician
Hospital
Poison Control Center
Necco Office Number
Necco Pager & Crisis Number
During initial training, you will complete a disaster plan and evacuation plan for your home. Both of these documents need to be posted in a visible place in your home. We suggest the refrigerator. You need to review both of these documents with each child who is placed in your home. Some state regulations may require documentation of the completion of fire drills.
What Are My Responsibilities For Children Who Receive Therapy?
Because Necco is a Therapeutic Foster Care, counseling and therapy is an important component to our services.
It is very important to make sure that each foster child attends every therapy session scheduled for him/her.
It is your responsibility to get children to all therapy appointments.
If you have any questions regarding therapy for your child please discuss this with your Case Manager or the Program Director in your local Necco office.
How Do I Discipline Foster Children?
Foster children cannot be subjected to corporal punishment (i.e. they cannot be spanked, etc.). As a foster parent, you will be required to read and sign a Corporal Punishment Agreement.
Many children placed in out-of-home care have been abused, neglected, emotionally mistreated, exploited or sexually abused. Therefore, they may have to be disciplined differently than your own children. If you have questions about disciplining a foster child, speak with your Case Manager.
In addition, to prohibiting corporal punishment, the following forms of punishment shall not be used:
Verbal abuse or threats of physical violence
Denial of food, clothing or shelter
Seclusion
Mechanical restraint
Assignments of extremely strenuous exercise or work
Denial of any additional services to child
Necco also asks that our foster parent(s):
Educate and discipline each child with kindness and understanding.
Establish well-defined rules, which set the expectations and limits of behavior.
Use teaching techniques that stress praise and encouragement.
Do not subject a child to verbal abuse, derogatory remarks about foster children, their families, their races, religion, or their ethnic or cultural backgrounds or threaten removal from the foster home.
Can I Use Time-Out As A Means Of Disciplining Foster Children?
Yes. The purpose of time-out is to reduce the frequency of negative behaviors over extended periods of time. However, the foster parent must monitor the time-out.
It is important when issuing time-outs that you inform the child why he/she is being put in time-out and what behavior is asked to be changed.
Children should be placed in time-out for no more than ten (10) minutes at a time. A good rule of thumb is to have a child in time-out for a length of time equal to his/her age, up to age 10.
When to Use Time-Out:
- Disruptive behaviors (group & individual)
- Disrespectfulness
- Off-task behavior
- Negative attitude
- Verbal aggression
- Cursing
Remember, time-out begins when the child has moved to the time-out area.
After using time-out, it is important to give the child the opportunity to "try" the new behavior by allowing him/her to return to the area he/she was asked to leave from.
When Should I Restrain A Foster Child?
Foster parent(s) should always use the least restrictive physical intervention necessary to control the situation and should contact the crisis pager if they feel the situation could get out of control. Note: Physical restraint should be limited to methods identified in the Youth General Information Regarding Youth Restraints (completed at intake and reviewed every 90 days).
A-level behavioral management training must be completed in order to restrain a child. If you do not have this training you are not permitted to restrain a child under any circumstances. In addition, children should not be restrained except in extreme circumstances. If, after you have attempted to use de-escalation techniques, and when a child is a danger to himself or others, physical restraint may be necessary. During your initial training, you will learn de-escalation techniques and may be trained on how to use passive restraint techniques. Anytime a foster child is restrained in your home, the Case Manager needs to be notified immediately by the pager or, if during office hours, contact the office.
Should a foster child need to be restrained, a Life Space interview is to be conducted afterward. This interview process helps reduce the need for future restraints and helps develop methods in which you can improve the child's behavior.
What Do I Do If A Foster Child Runs Away?
If a child runs away, please proceed as follows:
Initiate a search for the child while making note of the time, direction, a description of what the child was wearing and why the child might be running away.
If the child does not return to your home an hour after he/she is supposed to, contact the Case Manager immediately (if the child runs away during office hours) or the crisis pager (if after hours). If you are unable to reach your Case Manager during office hours, please ask to speak to the Team Leader or Program Director. Never leave a voice mail message regarding a runaway.
The Case Manager or on-call person will instruct you as to how to proceed.
Who Can Transport A Foster Child?
A foster child may only ride with a driver who is at least twenty-one years of age. Necco must have a copy of a valid driver's license of the driver and proof of current car insurance. The child must wear a seat belt at all times. In addition, a background check may be required for individuals transporting children.
Can My Foster Child Drive?
Most children in our program are not permitted to have driving privileges. If a child is in driver's training and in the process of acquiring a driver's license, they may drive only when accompanied by a foster parent or driving instructor. Participation in driver training must be approved through the Case Manager and the custodial agency. The child may not operate a vehicle alone at any time nor may they own a vehicle
Can I Take My Foster Child Out Of The State?
Foster children are not permitted to travel outside of the state (across river/across country) unless written permission is obtained from the custodial agency.
If you know that you will be traveling out of the state, please contact your Case Manager as soon as possible to get proper permission for out of state travel.
What If I Need Transportation Arrangements?
If non-routine transportation is needed, please contact your Case Manager, who will assist you with these arrangements.
Am I Reimbursed For Transportation?
Foster parent(s) are not reimbursed for routine transportation. This is included as the Daily Transportation allowance of a minimum $2.00 per day under the Foster Parent Reimbursement Contract.
Can Foster Children Operate Power Driven Equipment?
As a general rule, children should not operate any power driven equipment (including but not limited to four wheelers, boats, go-carts, or lawnmowers).
Permission to operate power driven equipment must be obtained from the child's custodial agency. If permission is granted, the child must be well instructed prior to using the equipment and supervised by an adult.
It is your responsibility to ensure that:
All equipment is maintained in a safe condition.
Each child must wear steel-toed boots and safety goggles while using a push lawn mower or string trimmer.
Steel-toed boots and safety goggles are purchased for the child.
Can I Keep A Gun Or Other Weapon In My Home?
While foster parent(s) are not prohibited from having firearms, explosives and other weapons in their homes, we strongly discourage this practice. If you do have these items in your home, they must be kept in a locked compartment. All ammunition must be stored in a separate locked compartment.
Hunting with foster children is not permitted unless permission is received from the custodial agency.
What Is A Behavior Card?
The Behavior Card is a document designed to track and chart the behavior of each foster child placed in your home. This is a tool to assist in programming for each child. Necco requires foster parent(s) to observe and complete Behavior Cards on a daily basis and submit weekly to the Case Manager. Behavior Cards are reviewed with the Case Manager during home visits for each child placed in your home.
Behavior Cards are required by the state for the youth's file. It is important that you provide and maintain up-to-date behavior cards on each child in your home. We recommend that you spend a few minutes daily to complete the behavior card so the information you write is accurate, not to mention it makes it easier to complete. The Behavior Card provides Necco with valuable information regarding the child's progress in your home.
What Is The Foster Parent Placement Contract?
This document provides that Necco will issue foster parent(s) a per diem payment for children in their home on a bi-monthly basis.
This per diem is based on the individual needs of each child and includes the following:
Daily Base Rate
Daily Clothing Allowance
Daily Recreation Allowance
Daily Transportation Allowance
Miscellaneous Daily Allowance
In addition to the above, a weekly allowance should be allotted to the child according to state regulations.
It is important for you to keep good records of what you spend on the youth.
If you are transporting a youth to therapy or to any other appointments, your expense would need to exceed the daily allowance before you request additional reimbursement.
How Often Am I Reimbursed?
Foster parent reimbursements are issued on a bi-monthly basis. In order to be reimbursed, foster parent(s) must complete payment vouchers for each child in their home. If you do not complete a payment voucher and submit it on time, you will not be reimbursed according to the standard schedule.
Payment vouchers for the 1st through the 15th day of each month are due in the office by the 17th of that month or the first Monday following the 17th if it falls on a weekend day or holiday. Reimbursement checks will be distributed on the last day of the month or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend day or holiday.
Payment vouchers for the 16th through the last day of each month are due in the office by the 2nd of the next month or the first Monday following the 2nd if it falls on a weekend day or holiday. Reimbursement checks will be distributed on the 15th of that month or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend day or holiday.
All foster parent reimbursement checks are distributed electronically from the bank of Necco's choice. The bank electronically transfers funds from Necco's account and then sends a check to you or direct deposits within 2-3 days of the transaction. It is important to be patient when awaiting reimbursement. Please allow 2-3 days for check arrival.
Please remember that foster parent reimbursement checks are not paychecks or income. You are not a Necco employee and this reimbursement is not counted as income for tax filing purposes.
If you have questions concerning foster parent reimbursement, please contact your local Necco office and if they cannot assist you, they will ask you to contact Aleshia Carrico in the Ohio office.
What If I Move?
Foster parent(s) are responsible for notifying Necco of any change of address so we may forward documentation and foster parent payments. Any new residence must pass a safety inspection within 30 days after a change in residence.
If additional adults move into your home, please inform the Case Manager and Home Resource Coordinator in the Necco office immediately.
Notify your local Necco office and Aleshia Carrico in the Ohio office, that you have changed addresses or bank accounts, or you will not receive your payments on time.
What is Independent Living?
Independent Living prepares a child to eventually leave foster care. These skills are initially taught by the foster parents through daily activities and include things like house keeping, self-hygiene, budgeting and savings, interpersonal and social skills.
Upon reaching the age of sixteen, most children are provided more intensive Independent Living education in the form of classes taught by Necco staff.
Youth that age out of care, which in most cases is the age of eighteen (18), may be eligible to receive transitional living services in the form of a Bridge Home. Please contact your Case Manager for details.
What Do I Do If I Have A Problem With A Necco Employee?
If after a meeting with your local Program Director the problem has not been resolved, you can contact the Division Director of the local office nearest you.
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