1. Fostering the Future Providing Supports for Students in Foster Care
Dr. Steve Archer
Union Chapel Elementary School, Park Hill S.D.

2. 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . 3 reasons you work with children
2 interesting things you don’t mind sharing
about yourself
1 take-away you want from today’s PD

3. I Am the one i am waiting for By catriese M. Johnson

4. I know who the children in foster care in my school/district are.
Whadaya know?
I know who the children in foster care in my school/district are.

5. I know what is involved in becoming a foster or kinship provider.
Whadaya know?
I know what is involved in becoming a foster or kinship provider.

6. Whadaya know?
I know what the chances are for children who age out of foster care to graduate high school.

7. Whadaya know?
I know what the chances are for children who age out of foster care to graduate college.

8. Whadaya know?
I know what the chances are for children who age out of foster care to become homeless or incarcerated.

9. Whadaya know?
I have “go to” contacts within the children’s division and related supports.

10. I know who the children in foster care in my school/district are.
Whadaya know?
I know who the children in foster care in my school/district are.
Key responsibilities:
Educational Stability, p. 1
Enrollment/Decision-makers, p. 4
Attendance/School Records, p. 5
Meals, p. 7
Post Secondary Visits, p. 7

11. Who Fosters? Licensed foster parents Relative placements
Residential placements (short-term and long-term)

12. Licensed Foster Parents...
STARS Training = 10 weeks/40 class hours
Endless assignments and paperwork -- fingerprints, background checks, physicals, home walkthroughs, financial information, character & employer references . . .

13. Licensed Foster Parents...
Licensing in Missouri is through contractors with the state. Some examples:
Cornerstones of Care
Foster Adopt Connect
Great Circle

14. Licensed Foster Parents...
Must be 21 or older
No requirement for marital status, home ownership or educational background
Financially stable
Determine the number and age range for license
Decide what placements to take
Receive about 52¢/hr. for traditional placements

15. Licensed Foster Parents...
Then what happens . . .
Quarterly licensing visits
30 hours of unpaid PD every 2 years -- may or may not provide childcare
Learn to ask lots of questions and ADVOCATE

16. Licensed Foster Parents...
Placement of children in foster homes is through the county where the case is being managed OR through contractors with the state.

17. Licensed Foster Parents...
Then what happens . . .
Incorporating the child into the family
Monthly home visits -- may include worker, GAL, CASA and/or juvenile officer
Family support team meetings
Court, visits with parents and/or siblings, doctor visits, therapy . . .

18. Kinship Foster Parents...
7 hours of training -- reading policies (HIPPA, second-hand smoke, etc.)
7 hours of face-to-face caregiver training
Monthly visits
Some of the same paperwork, such as background checks, as with traditional foster care
Walking the tightrope of kinship connection to family and expectations of the CD

19.
July 6, 2017

20. become homeless or incarcerated.
Whadaya know?
I know what the chances are for children who age out of foster care to . . .
graduate high school.
graduate college.
become homeless or incarcerated.

21. Foster Statistics

23. Foster Care & Death Row Populations

25. Whadaya know?
Foster children suffer PTSD at more than twice the rate of US war veterans.
1 in 5 foster children experience homelessness within 1 year of aging out of care.

27. Whadaya know?
I know who to contact within the children’s division and related supports.

28. https://dss.mo.gov/cd/fostercare

29. Agencies to know County Children’s Division Cornerstones of Care
Foster Adopt Connect
Great Circle

30. https://youtu.be/u_Oapo1Q7_w

31. What can I do?
Find out who in your school/district is in the care and custody of the children’s division. How do you track that at enrollment and/or over time?
Monitor children in foster care for trauma support (in the classroom and through the school social worker or counselor).

32. What can I do?
Be intentional in notifying foster parents of availability to services within the school/district such as free meals, BackSnacks, Miles of Smiles, clothing pantries, holiday gifts, etc.
Participate in Family Support Team Meetings in person or by phone.

33. What can I do?
Help connect children in foster care with mentors who may be willing to become long-term resources for them.
Give particular attention to middle and high schoolers to make sure they are aware of post-secondary options and how to access them.

34. What can I do?
Connect with groups like Northland Foster and Adoptive Support, Ask an Advocate, etc. for information and to develop awareness of foster parent concerns.
Keep a stash of school supplies and luggage.