138. Replay- Being a Part of The Team: A Conversation on How Foster Parents Can Support Reunification

So welcome, Nicole.

Thank you for having me.

Thanks for sitting down to have this conversation today because it is one of the tougher conversations because as we ourselves were foster families and experienced versions of reunifications and experienced... where reunification wasn't possible.

You know, just between our two families, we have lots of feelings associated with reunification.

And certainly the families that we're serving through our work have even more reunification stories or lack thereof.

And so... um, one thing that's really common here at Hope Bridge and in the ways that we're supporting families and coming alongside them is we talk a lot about the importance of being part of the team.

And, um, That as a foster parent, you have a place at the table.

There's value in what you have to contribute.

You're the ones with the child 24-7 and can speak to their needs and advocate for any resources or connections they might need.

And that's sort of the focus of this conversation on reunification is what is your role as a Yeah,

I think it's important to know that if a child reunifies, you developing that team mentality is huge in staying connected with the family and staying connected with that child if it's possible.

And also just knowing that if you are a part of the team and you are trying to support reunification, if it's safe, it's so much better for that child.

So what we find a lot of times that there are foster families, when we first start off as foster families, I know at least when we got licensed, it almost was this mentality that we were being contracted by the agency to just do one job, take care of the children.

And if you kind of feel that way, you may completely feel disconnected and not even try to step in and maybe be part of the team.

You can kind of get stuck there.

And if you step into foster care, Right.

And I'm just supposed to care for the child.

But actually caring for the child is so much more than just the day to day caring for the child.

It's building a relationship with the caseworker so that you can advocate for their needs.

It's building a relationship with the biological family so you can advocate for their needs.

And it's it's.

Inviting yourself to the seat at the table if the worker isn't inviting you and making your presence known respectfully but confidently that you are a part of this team and that you have value to add to the to the team because of your role.

Yeah, so part of the issues that I found working with families, we had a new family one time who didn't even know there were court dates and they were invited.

Or we've had families who were unsure of how policies and procedures go, what's the chain of command, things that may have been given to them in training, they just didn't remember because it was like a fire hose during training.

Yes.