1. Texas Baptist home for children
Normalcy
Texas Baptist home for children

2. What is normalcy?(§ )
The ability of a child in care to live as normal of a life as possible.
Engaging in childhood activities that are suitable for children of the same age, level of maturity, and/or developmental level as determined by a reasonable and prudent parent standard.
Normal interaction and experiences within the foster family through participation in family activities.

3. Normalcy

4. Children are to participate in Childhood Activities as much as possible (§749.2603.)
Children in care must participate in childhood activities, including unsupervised childhood activities, as much as possible.
Service Plans will include discussion on how normalcy can be achieved for the child.
Service Plans will also include the child’s specific needs for supervision.

5. What is the “reasonable and prudent parent standard?” (§749.2605.)
The standard of care that a parent of reasonable judgment, skill, and caution would use to maintain health, safety, and best interest of the child and encourage the emotional and social growth and development of the child.

6. When using the reasonable and prudent parent standard…(§749.2605.)
Take into consideration the following:
Child’s age and level of maturity (is the child old enough and mature enough to participate in this activity?)
Child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development level
Child’s behavioral history and ability to safely participate in a proposed activity
Child’s overall abilities
Child’s desires

7. When using the reasonable and prudent parent standard Continued(§749
Is the activity a normal activity for children of that age and level of maturity?
The surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks of the activity (is the activity safe?)
Outside supervision of the activity, if available and appropriate (what level of supervision is needed, if any, for this activity?)
Supervision instructions in the child’s service plan (does the child need extra supervision?)
The importance of providing the child the most normal family-like living experience possible (would you allow your biological child to participate in the proposed activity?)

8. Who makes the decision regarding a foster child’s participation in childhood activities? (§ )
A foster parent makes decisions regarding a child’s participation in childhood activities.
When making decisions regarding a foster child’s participation in childhood activities, the foster parent must follow the reasonable and prudent parent standard.
The child’s service plan may not require the approval of the parent before the foster parent may consent to a foster child’s participation in childhood activities.
If the parent provides notice in advance that the child is prohibited from participating in a specific activity, foster parents must follow the parent’s decision.

9. Goals for Normalcy
Provide children in care with a “normal” life experience.
Empower the foster parents to encourage their children to engage in extracurricular activities that promote well-being.
Allow for reasonable parenting decisions to be made by the foster parents.
Respect the rights of children in care.

10. What is considered normal?
Did you play sports in high school?
Did you go to your high school prom?
Did you go on a school trip?
Did you get your license to drive when you were in high school?
Did you and your siblings live in the same home?
Did you stay in the same high school for four years?
Were the clothes you wore in school similar to those of your peers?
Did your family take summer vacations together?
Did you spend the night with your friends?
Were you allowed to go out with friends without an adult present?
Were you allowed to ride in the car when your teenage friends were driving?

11. Normalcy
Youth who “age out” of the foster care system experience worse life outcomes than their peers, including homelessness, unemployment, and poverty.
It is easy for us to take these “normal” activities for granted, but these activities help youth develop interests, acquire skills, and build lasting, supportive relationships. Because of constraints, youth are often denied the opportunity to participate in everyday experiences essential for their successful transition into adulthood.

12. Know the Child
What is the youth’s age, developmental level, and maturity level?
Is the youth able to make decisions that are appropriate?
What is the youth’s behavior history and ability?
What level of supervision does the youth require?

13. Understand the key factors related to the activity
Is the activity safe?
What are the associated risks?
What level of supervision is required?

14. Make decisions on a case-by-case basis
Does the activity encourage the youth’s emotional growth?
Does the activity encourage social and cultural interaction?
Is the activity in the youth’s best interest?
Does the activity promote the youth’s well-being?

15. Scenarios

16. Monica, 17 years old
Monica has lived in the same cottage for about three months. She is diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Monica has panic attacks, but her new medication and therapy regimes are working well. Monica displays appropriate behaviors with both her peers and staff and has not had any behavioral issues. Monica wants to attend her prom with her friends. Her friend, Ashley, invited her to ride to prom in a limousine with three other high school students. There will be parent chaperones and teachers supervising the prom once she arrives. The prom will be held at the high school gymnasium and once the youth enter they are unable to leave the building. There will be security guards monitoring the school premises during the event. The limousine will bring Monica back to the cottage after prom ends. Monica has requested a midnight curfew and prom will end at 11: 00PM. This will give the driver time to drop everyone off and return Monica to the operation by curfew. There are no special supervision precautions in Monica’s service plan; however her maturity level does seem to be a bit younger than the average 17-year-old.

17. Should Monica be allowed to attend her high school prom?
What is Monica’s age and level of maturity?
What is Monica’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development level?
What is Monica’s behavioral history and ability to participate in a proposed activity?
What are Monica’s overall abilities?
Is the prom a normal childhood activity?
What are Monica’s desires?
What are the surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks of the activity?
Is outside supervision available and appropriate?
What does Monica’s service plan say in regard to her supervision instructions?

18. Anthony, 8 years old
Anthony has been with the Smith family for five months now. He is diagnosed with ADHD, which is regulated with medication. Anthony is compliant with rules and is typically respectful to his foster parents and other adults. Anthony is placed in a home with three other children, and has shown to have positive and appropriate interactions with them. Anthony has done well in school, except for a few incidents in which he has had arguments with another student in his class. Otherwise, Anthony does very well in school academically and behaviorally. Anthony desires to play soccer and sign ups for teams are coming up. Anthony brings up the idea of him playing soccer to his foster parents. If Anthony were to play soccer this could require him to be unsupervised by his foster parents for a brief time due to the possibility of conflicting schedules of the other children.

19. Should Anthony be allowed to join a soccer team?
What is Anthony’s age and level of maturity?
What is Anthony’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development level?
What is Anthony’s behavioral history and ability to participate in this activity?
What are Anthony’s overall abilities?
Is this activity a normal childhood activity?
What are Anthony’s desires?
What are the surrounding circumstances, hazards, and risks of the activity?
What does Anthony’s service plan say about his supervision needs?

20. Responsibilities/ Activities
Children need to be given responsibilities to elevate their self-worth and to teach them life skills.
Children must also be given certain freedoms so they can learn on their own.
Children’s different ages must be kept in consideration when discussing personal freedom and responsibilities.

21. Examples of Age Appropriate Responsibilities
13 years old: Maintain Hygiene
14 years old: Wash Laundry
15 years old: Life Skills Classes
16 years old: Part Time Job
17 years old: Money Saved to Start their Life.

22. Examples of Normal Age Appropriate Activities
13 years old: Extra Curricular Activities
14 years old: Sports Participation/Event
15 years old: Activity without Supervision (3 hours)
16 years old: Activity without Supervision (6 hours)
17 years old: Later curfew for an Activity/Outing

23. What activities can you get your kids involved in?
Sports
Community Activities
School Activities/Trips
Sleepovers/Movies/Age Appropriate Activities with friends
What activities did you do as a child?
What activities would you have your biological children participate in?