should children in long term foster care be encouraged to maintain contact with their blood relatives ?

Question

Full answers please

Answer 1

I also grew up in foster care. www.sunshinegirlonarainyday.com

Depending on their age, you might want to ask the child themselves what they prefer.

I recently attended the Casey Foundation's 4th annual "It's My Life" conference, and spent lots of time talking with current foster youth.

Because I am an alumni of foster care, many teenagers opened up to me.

"Blood relatives" is a broad term.

1.) Foster youth (including myself) have often suffered from separation from their siblings.

2.) Some foster youth want contact with their biological parents -- and some don't.

CASA representatives/guardians ad litem are supposed to represent the best interests of the foster child in court.

Sadly, across the nation, not every foster child is appointed a representative to speak for them.

Is your life just like everyone else's life in your particular "demographic?" I don't think so. People are individuals. Ask them. Listen to their answers.

One caveat: If the relative is physically and/or sexually abusive, visits might have to be supervised. If visits are emotionally destructive to the child, that's another important thing to consider.

So, what I am saying is that: "Every case is different. Look at the individuals involved. And, no matter how large your caseload is, take time to really listen to the child."

Answer 2

Being a foster parent I believe that it is great as long as the parents are doing what they are supposed to be doing...ie / AA, NA, counseling, etc. One of my kids right now doesn't have visits with one of his parents, cause they couldn't produce a clean UA...and won't have any until one can be produced. Meth = 3 days, Marijuana = 1 month to get out of the system and so forth. When you say long term...it should (I say should) only be (I believe 16 out of 22 solid months before parental rights can be terminated at any time. It also depends on their age, The age group I currently have, they don't have a choice, nor do they know what is going on...(they have been in the system most of their life and think the word mommy and daddy means...someone they see twice a week and get candy from. Sad situation.

That's my input!

Answer 3

Normally children who are in long term foster care are court ordered to maintain contact with certain blood relatatives (not always mom & dad) until parental rights are terminated & they are eligible for adoption. Sometimes the visits have to be supervised by a case worker. I don't always agree with it but unfortunately it's a necessary step to terminating parental rights.

Answer 4

I don't know if that's such a good idea. I mean, they're in foster care for a reason. I think being in foster care and being in contact with your relatives would only make it harder when you were adopted and had to pretty much leave your old relatives behind to get new ones.

And plus, if I was in foster care and was in contact with my relatives I think it would be even tougher knowing there were people out there who loved you but still let you live with foster parents.

Answer 5

i think of it may be significant in terms of identification and subculture subject concerns. clearly if a newborn is in long term care, there has been a rationalization for it. Social amenities have an obligation to motivate babies to maintain touch no rely if it is supervised or unsupervised. From adventure what you detect whilst a newborn reaches the age of 17-18 they oftentimes do waft lower back to their very own blood relatives besides.

Answer 6

AS a former foster child myself, I was always in contact with my blood family, visited my grandma and aunts every week. So I believe absolutely. In my case, I have no contact now with my awful foster parents

Answer 7

I was in foster care as a child and let me tell you , I missed my siblings (brothers and sisters) very much. It broke my heart not to be able to see them or talk to them. They were all I had.

My answer is yes....PLease let them keep contact with their blood relatives. It is imparative for their development and mental well being and gives them hope and something to look forward to.
No matter what circumstance they came from , they still love their parents too! My father went to prison for child abuse on me, but I STILL LOVE HIM. And do to this day.(I'm 45 now). No matter what he did to me, I still and always will love my father.
Now that I'm an adult woman, I donate 10% of my earnings from my website to "Prevent Child Abuse".
www.multipureusa.com/lnewton