NonTraditional Families and Their Caregivers Foster Care and Reunification in Play Therapy Sabra Starnes LICSWLCSWC RPTS Thursday March 82018 Learning Objectives The foster care system and the concept of Reunification will be presented ID: 765257
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Non-Traditional Families and Their Caregivers: Foster Care and Reunification in Play Therapy Sabra Starnes, LICSW,LCSW-C, RPT-S Thursday , March 8,2018
Learning Objectives The foster care system and the concept of Reunification will be presented Different Modalities to implement in these systems is critical to understand Learn more about the role of the caregivers in this system
AFSA Law
Number of children in Foster Care in
U.S. Foster Care Statistics 2014 Permanency Goals for children in foster care Placement settings
The Foster Care System: Key Stakeholders And Roles DCFS - Dept. of Children’s & Family Services : Responsible for providing all mandated services and legally responsible for foster child’s welfare Children’s Court: Presiding Judge : Oversees placement, special treatment Foster Parent(s)-Kinship Care: Shelter, food, medical care, school attendance Therapist: Provides psychological counseling and support Foster Care Agency :* Provides social worker- additional care for needier youth Educational Rights Holder :Assures child receives legallyrequired education DCFS Social Worker:Visits foster home; talks with child on regular basis to assure care delivery Attorney:Reports to court every 6 months School: Provides education Foster Child Legend Legally Mandated Services Optional Services 6 Social worker, police Neighbor, teacher, family member ,
Rudy Rudy is the oldest of three children who came into foster care in the state of Michigan as a result of physical abuse, neglect and abandonment. After their mother, Lois, sought help with her substance abuse, his younger brothers returned home. Lois couldn’t meet Rudy’s special emotional and behavioral needs on a full-time basis and he remained in foster care.
Rudy After Rudy was in care for nearly six years with multiple moves, Lois’s sister, Harriet, was located in Massachusetts through a relative search. At 9 years old, Rudy was placed with Harriet and her six children. After one year, the placement disrupted and Rudy was placed in a group residence. At age 12, Rudy was referred to Casey Family Services and placed in the foster home of Betty and Bob Jones.
Children who come into care often will feel range of emotions Fear Anger Confusion Sadness Worry Frustration Denial Shy ShockChildren may present as NeedyControllingDistantVolatileAvoidantManipulativeAnxious
Rudy Through Harriet, the Casey social worker was able to contact Lois, who was still living in Michigan and had given up hope of having any contact with Rudy. Anxious to see Rudy again but without the financial resources to travel, Lois, assisted by the social worker, wrote Rudy a letter and joined his Permanency Team meeting by phone. Lois located Rudy’s father, Ernie, who struggled with alcohol addiction, but wanted contact with his son. The social worker gathered as much information as she could from both parents to share with Rudy. .
Play therapy Techniques to use with the child and is caregivers Sandtray Lifebook GenogramNarrative Story Non directive play Directive play Therapeutic games
Therapeutic Themes for healing: Letting go of “Its my fault” Believing In Yourself Keeping Connections and making new ones Sharing my story Letting adults who are not my parents care for me
Interventions to use with the child and caregivers Family therapy Bonding study PCITTheraplay /MIM Support group and classes Trainings and workshops
Therapeutic Issues: Guilt and shame Loyalty to birth family Multiple placements Siblings Parentified childRegression
Therapeutic Issues Continued: Learning to trust Learning to be a kid Anxiety– What is next? Fitting in Caught between two worlds Dealing with disappointmentsAging outComing to terms they may not be going home soon
Challenges and Obstacles that than can occur in family therapy Child Birth parents CaregiversThe Child’s Team
U.S. Foster Care Statistics 2014 Length of Stay Outcomes for children Exiting Foster Care
When the child returns home to the birth family…
Rudy The social worker also met with Bob and Betty to help them understand and support Rudy as he reconnected with his family. In her letter, Rudy’s mom acknowledged her poor choices and prior substance abuse problem and explained that she had been sober for the last five years. She knew Rudy would have questions and feel angry, but she wanted to work on their relationship. Lois also told him she was employed full time and had lived in the same apartment for four years. .
Questions? Next webinar in the series is Non-traditional Families and their Caregivers: Adoption and Kinship in Play Therapy December 20,2016 1:00-3:00pm Eastern time