Ok if i am reading this right that means that if children must be removed immediately they must find a foster home to take them to
In a hospital the urgent patients go to a unit which is staffed 24/7
In the case of my sister in law at 16 it was deemed that she was a danger to herself as well as the other family members and her parents reluctantly knew something had to be done. She was immediately sent for assessment at a hospital (she was oxygen deprived at birth) but what they do have is group homes which are staffed 24/7. In her particular group home overnight they have 2 staff members on, during the day a few more but if they are able to work etc they are picked up, taken to their jobs etc.. This is trained staff just not as costly. There are 12 that live in her particular group home. This is now her home and she will remain there
I recognize that obviously you try to place them back with the families, whether or not i always agree this sb the case or not is for another discussion. She is though monitored every single day.
I guess my next question is this. Is there currently something like that for children that must be removed until decsions/integration back into the family/or subsequent alternatives can be determined? I am not talking short term here i am taking for the longer term. I know how long the system can take. Payment is already made to foster homes but these would be people on the payroll much like a nursing staff and these are their jobs
Allusonz:
Group homes for the mentally ill or children who are a danger to themselves or others are available...as are many other placements for children who have special problems (sexually agressive youth, sexually victimized youth, etc.) DSS makes every effort to place children in whatever living arrangement is determined to be the best placement for the child's needs...whatever that might be. Before we remove a child/children from their home, the situation is evaluated. First priority for "normal" children is Kinship care...that is a relative placement or close friend of the family that the child is familiar with. If parents are separated or never married, the non-custodial parent is the first placement option. Followed by the grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc. Additionally, if a child has to be placed in foster care, the foster care workers make significant effort to place the child in an environment that is best suited to their needs whenever possible, ie same school district, placing all children in the same home, a foster family that best suits the personality or needs of the child, (example: sexually abused teen girl would likely do best with a family who has a few teen girls of their own...and no teen boys). Children with mental health illness are evaluated and placement is determined by a therapist as to the level of program and facility recommended. Children with substance abuse problems are placed in facilities that deal with those type of issues, and so on...
All children in State custody are provided with all services needed...therapy, transportation, medical, etc. We also determine parental contact (or not) and supervise visits if needed, decide if telephone calls need to be monitored, determine if the parents are able to contribute financially, etc.
During the period of State custody, we are mandated to provide services to the parents to "correct" the problem that led to us taking custody. I often don't agree with reunification, however, we must comply.
Throughout the process, the courts hold several hearings to determine what we are doing to comply and what the parents are doing to comply. If the parents refuse to cooperate, we move toward permancy planning (ie: adoption).
That pretty much explains the basics of the Foster Care system.
