“Top-Down” Approach to Foster and Adoption

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“Top-Down” Approach to Foster and Adoption

If you are engaged in foster parenting or adoption, grasping this concept can change your world. And more importantly, change your child’s world.

Are there governing standards, rules, and laws that dictate how Department of Human Resources (DHR) case workers should perform there work?

Yes.

This might seem like a simple concept to someone watching from the sideline, but to a great man foster parents out there, they go to sleep every night being totally baffled by the inexplicable actions (or inactions) of DHR case workers.

Now, please hear me clearly. I am not a downer on the DHR case workers. I love my folks at the DHR and I am usually a staunch defender of the Department’s virtue-driven players.

The fact that those virtue-players do exist within the Department is all the more reason for foster parents to grasp this concept. It may be the you, as a foster parent, know DHR policy better than the case worker. If your case worker is pursuing excellence with virtue, they will be glad for you to bring to their attention governing law or policy when it servers the child’s best interest.

Everything of significance within DHR’s scope of work is governed by law or policy.

For example, let’s say your foster child has been in your home for 18-months with no word from the father or any of his relatives. You’ve had many ISPs along the way. Last week, the paternal grandmother reached out and stated that she wanted visits. At the ISP, the Department agreed and scheduled visitation for two hours every week, unsupervised.

You calmly voiced your concerns that this would be opposed to the child’s best interest. You objected. The Department politely acknowledged your concerns and moved on.

After the ISP, you asked the caseworker if you could have a copy of the ISP record. You wanted to make sure your objection was recorded. The case worker said, “I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to give you a copy.”

You were surprised and calmly responded, “You’ve give me ISP documents before. Why can’t I have one now?”

To which the case worker answered, “Well, that’s just our policy – foster parents can’t have the ISP record without a court order.”

As we can see in this example, when the case worker was gently pressed by the foster parent, she appealed to authority. This is top-down thinking. That’s good. However, did she appeal to the right authority?

No, she didn’t appeal to the right authority. And a generous lens would lead us to assume that the caseworker’s error was not intentional or malicious.

The Department’s Individualized Service Plan Policy, their authoritative policy governing all things related to the ISP, unequivocally mandates that the Department provide the foster parent with a copy of the ISP record.

A written copy of the ISP shall be provided to …  all … team members at the conclusion of each ISP meeting. If this is not feasible, the ISP shall be distributed to the team within ten (10) working days of the date the meeting was held.

ISP Policy p. 19.

Not only it is good for foster parents to know what the governing policy is in any situation, it’s good for the children in their care. It’s also good for the caseworkers. Caseworkers get into this field because they want to help people. The policies are written and designed to give children the best chance of thriving. A foster parent with a humble tone can often be a great asset to a virtue-driven case worker.

How Could this Top-Down Thinking Have Helped this Child?

To return to our example, the foster mother went home and read this article. Then she sat down at her computer to write an earnest and respectful email to her case worker.

Dear Amirah,

Thanks for leading the ISP today. I’m always grateful for everything you do for Benji. I know things were a little rushed today when I asked for the ISP record. I hope I’m not overstepping, but I found the Department’s ISP Policy. On page 19, it says that foster parents should be given a copy of the ISP record.

When it’s convenient for you, please take a look at the policy and let me know if I’m reading it wrong.

Thanks again for all you do.

Most of the time, this gentle touch is all it takes to get your very busy, very overwhelmed case worker to comply with their policy.

If it Doesn’t Then Please Give us a Call.

The science of conflict resolution is our jam. Not only have I been a foster parent, not only am I an adoptive parent, I love equipping foster parents to graciously advocate for the children in their care.

For your own copy of the Department’s governing policy for Individualized Service Plans, please email me today at Sam@TheAdoptionFirm.com.