5 Actions to Take When You're Frustrated With Your Foster Care Case
A Quick Guide for Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers
Foster care cases are complex because of the very circumstances that bring families into contact with the child welfare system. No situation is the same. No person is the same. If solutions were quick and easy, they would have already been found. Families may be facing challenges that vary broadly from economic instability, mental health concerns, isolation, addiction, or criminal acts. These deeply personal family situations are further shaped by the fact that every individual brings their own history, perspectives, and biases.
In addition to the family members involved, there are also professionals working on the case, each with different roles, responsibilities, and their own personal history and perspectives. Foster care brings all of this together and attempts to apply a structured “system” to deeply personal situations. This system must balance the requirements of legal standards and procedures with professional discretion afforded to assess safety and determine what is in the best interest of a child. It is challenging, to say the least.
As a result, caregivers may often feel frustrated or uncertain. It is as if things are moving forward without a clear roadmap or even a destination.
It is important to approach frustration with the awareness that everyone is involved in this “foster care system” because at some point they felt compassion, purpose, empathy and the need to advocate for a child who needs help. And while every situation is unique, there are 5 things a foster parent and relative placement caregiver can do to alleviate some of that frustration when they encounter confusion or challenge in meeting the needs of the child in their care.
1. Understand the Roles of Those Involved
Many people may be part of a foster care case, including a caseworker for the case management provider, biological parents, parent attorneys, judge, foster parent case worker, guardian ad litem (GAL), CASA volunteer, court services officer, and foster parent.
Understanding who is responsible for what helps caregivers:
Direct questions to the right person
Understand who makes decisions for each aspect of the case
Avoid unnecessary confusion or delays
Prevent expectations of help from the wrong person
If you're unsure about someone's role, it is okay to ask for clarification. Sometimes the case worker or others in the case may also be confused about who has the authority for decisions so asking more than one person is appropriate. See handouts on Roles and Relationships and Understanding the Court Systems.
2. Document Information
Keeping records can protect important details. Documentation can be as simple as keeping text messages or putting things in an email. While the perspective of a caregiver is important, in order to share appropriate information with others who are able to make decisions in the case, documentation of factual information is essential.
Documenting includes both keeping your own personal records, as well as getting documentation from those in a child’s life such as daycare reports, therapy evaluations, medical reports, and school documents.
Consider documenting:
Dates and summaries of conversations
Emails or messages related to the case
Court dates and meeting outcomes, dates, times and location of visits
Evaluations, reports, communications for all who are interacting with the child (school, medical, therapy, daycare)
Changes in the child’s behavior, health, or school progress
Good documentation helps provide clarity. Having factual information that is accessible, clearly outlined, and in a factual format to be shared is helpful.
3. Provide Clear Communication
Being proactive with communication from the outset of the case sets an expectation of consistent and open communication with all parties as a team, rather than waiting until there is an issue or disagreement. Early communication should not only take place between the caseworker and foster parent, but should include the other parties in the case. Issues often arise if the majority of information shared about a child’s needs and experiences flow solely through the foster parent and the case worker. Other decision-makers in the case also need to receive communication directly from the caregiver.
Miscommunication can still happen in complex systems when there are multiple people and roles involved. Best practices for communication include:
Communicate in writing - if it isn’t in writing, it didn’t happen
Include all appropriate parties in the communication (ex: GAL, caseworker, CASA, court services officer, or others)
Request clarification about timelines or decisions in writing
Summarize your understanding and confirm it is correct
Request support effectively. (Follow the “clear ask” model: (1) State the need (2) Provide documentation (3) Connect to case goal (4) Request specific action. Ex: “Due to increased aggression incidents (3 this month at school), I am requesting a behavioral assessment to support placement stability.”)
Stick to the facts
Don’t place blame, state your need
Clear communication helps keep everyone focused on supporting the child. Best practices for communication ensures everyone is aware of the same information.
4. Use All Opportunities Available To You
The foster care system involves many different people with different roles for a reason - each one has a perspective, purpose, and relationship with the child that needs to be shared with those who have the legal authority in the case. As a foster parent or relative caregiver, it is essential to participate in all the opportunities provided to you to make sure there is common awareness about the child’s needs and day to day life. This helps alleviate frustration and confusion.
Attend Hearings - Foster parents are given the right to participate in the heartings for a reason. Attend court. You may need to give information; or you may need to hear information.
Write A Foster Parent Court Report - A court report is a document prepared for the judge before scheduled hearings to provide updates by the foster parent as the primary caregiver. In many jurisdictions, a foster parents’ right to submit a court report directly to the court is protected by statute. It should include things like: educational progress, support services, visitation, activities or interests of the child, progress or challenges.
Case Plan Meeting - Attend the case plan meetings and give input. This document outlining goals, services, timelines, and responsibilities for all parties involved in a child welfare case.
Attend Educational Meetings - Attend all meetings to represent the interests of the child. While the foster parent may not have the authority to sign an IEP plan for example, they do have the right to be present at such meetings to help share information. They can also request educational support.
Request Outside Help - Sign up for needed support services such as educational tutoring, occupational therapy, medical evaluations, or behavioral support. Request information and input from a skilled professional and provide that to the case team.
Use the chain of support. If concerns are not resolved after clear communication and documentation, there are additional levels of support within the system. Use the appropriate chain of support to help ensure your concerns are addressed by the right people. For example, you may reach out to a case worker’s supervisor or their supervisor if you find yourself at an impasse.
5. Additional Advocacy Resources
Many states have independent advocacy organizations that help oversee the child welfare system. Foster parents and caregivers, as well as CASA volunteers and GAL’s can submit concerns and request review by these organizations. One example is the Office of the Child Advocate, which may:
Review concerns about child welfare cases
Provide oversight of agency practices
Help ensure children's needs and rights are protected
It is also helpful to understand your protected role as a foster parent or relative placement. There are documents that provide legal standards and protection for the caregiver such as:
Understanding these resources can help caregivers know where to turn if concerns remain unresolved.
Remember
Foster and kinship caregivers play a critical role in a child’s life as the person involved in the child’s day-to-day lived experiences. There are numerous people involved in the complex system of foster care. Approaching situations with the assumption that all are doing their best to fulfill their role of meeting the needs of the child can help reframe difficult situations and conflict. In addition, staying informed, organized, and connected to provide factual, accurate and timely information will bring to light whether a conflict or challenging situation in a child’s case is simply a lack of communication or requires other types of support and intervention. Staying connected to available supports can make navigating the system more manageable while keeping the focus on the child’s well-being.
