Treatment Foster Parent Duties and Skills

A treatment foster parent is responsible for providing a healthy, structured, safe, nurturing, predictable and clean living environment for a severely emotionally disabled or a medically fragile child.  Likewise, treatment foster parents provide corrective learning experiences and are available to the child, biological family, and for multi-agency collaboration to meet the foster child’s needs.

Availability is defined as being accessible by phone or in person seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Multi-agency collaboration includes necessary phone and in person contact with CFS, schools, Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and all other agencies that become involved to service the child’s needs appropriately. 

                                                   
     
DUTIES: 

1. Serves as a role model by encouraging and reinforcing appropriate behaviors and discouraging destructive behaviors through the constructive use of CFS approved behavior management techniques.
2. Attends to the child’s socialization needs by involving the foster child in family, school, and community activities.
3. Acts as an educational advocate for the child with regard to school placement and teacher conferences; ensures that the child completes homework assignments, provides tutoring and works cooperatively with the child’s school.
4. Where appropriate, works collaboratively with the birth family and CFS staff in making decisions concerning the child; keeps the birth family abreast of  significant events in the child’s life, and helps to arrange and transports the child to and from family visits.
5. Responds quickly and appropriately in crisis situations using the least restrictive intervention necessary; at times using therapeutic holds to maintain safety of the child and others; must be able to act according to agency policies.
6. Attends to the health care needs of the child by ensuring that they complete medical and dental appointments, hearing and vision exams annually, unless otherwise prescribed; ensures that child completes the necessary lab work.
7. Provides for the child’s spiritual, religious, and cultural development needs.
8. Attends and participates as a multidisciplinary team member in the development and revisions of the child’s Individual Treatment Plan (ITP).
9. Attends all therapy and psychiatric appointments and implements therapy strategies.
10. Prepares a Lifebook for the child which highlights significant past and present life events.
11. Attends to the child’s personal care needs including providing nutritious  meals, administration of medications, proper hygiene, etc.
12. Ensures that the child has appropriate transportation to attend school, medical appointments, etc.
13. Attends Foster Care Review Board meetings and any required court appearances as needed.
14. Attends all required training for initial certification and annual recertification.
15. Must be able to maintain the strict confidentiality of all information pertaining to the foster child and the birth family.

SKILLS:

1. Must be at a literacy level that will allow the Foster Parent to read, write, and communicate effectively with the foster child, program staff and other members of the community.
2. Must possess sound judgement and good decision making skills.
3. Must be compassionate, patient and professional in all situations.
4. Must be flexible, open-minded and possess a willingness to learn.
5. Must be open and willing to learn new strategies and techniques to help emotionally disturbed children.
6. Must be able to maintain appropriate objectivity when dealing with sensitive issues concerning the foster child.