Working With Foster Students by Amy Garrison https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp Informative Resource Guide for Graduate class at Angelo State University en-us 2021-06-14 21:29:52 UTC 2021-07-16 23:05:54 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f499.png #1 My Professional Prespective agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606065437 This is an informative legal and ethical guide about working with students in foster care. This is an important subject to share with educators. Students in foster care face many challenges and barriers that effect their personal, social, and academic development. School counselors can offer this population of students and their teachers resources and supports to help the succeed. The guide will help inform educators of the current problems and suggested solutions to help assist in serving an often overlooked student in foster care. 

]]> 2021-06-14 21:35:26 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606065437 #2 Interview agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606066778 An interview was held with a high school head counselor at Kaufman High School in Kaufman, Texas.  Kaufman High School is a neighbor to a children's shelter and has several foster parent providers in the community.  The elementary schools deal with more foster students than the high school level, but several come and go throughout the school year and some have stayed a few.  The school is knowledgeable of one foster parent that takes in older children.  In an honest statements, the counselor stated that they are usually told a student is a foster child.  The problem is usually they are temporarily held at the shelter before records are received and they are moved to a more permanent place.  Records are usually received for students that are in a more permanent placement with a foster family. These students often have credit recovery and/or have to pick a new pathway.  Students also are dealing with a lot of trauma or stress.  A counselor can listen and help advocate for the students classroom needs and guide the student to resources that will help them cope, but counselors are not licensed to counsel them for their mental health needs.  The counselor, Traci Mitchell, accommodated me with the best of her knowledge in the subject of foster care. She stated that she personally has not had any foster students that are seniors or looking to attend any post-secondary options.  Most students are unfortunately just ready to be independent and graduate high school.  Mitchell believes the Legal Guide will be a benefit for others to have the knowledge and resource to better help foster students.  Teachers develop relationships with students too, and can motivate more foster students to look into post-secondary options and assistance.  TEA has a lot of information to help school counselors, guardians, and students gain information.  High school foster students have to want to access it and make it a goal for their future. A student that only stays for a very short amount of time has to want to focus on whatever support they can get before they move again. She recommended a few best practices in school counseling and working with foster students: 
  • Communication and collaboration with child welfare, the guardian, and the school will benefit the students high school experience.  
  • Providing the information for post-secondary support directly to the high school student is essential, with everything going on in their lives it is not always the most important topic for a case worker. 
  • Supporting the student with making social connections, information on school activities and participation in extra-curriculars can make transitions easier.

]]> 2021-06-14 21:36:46 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606066778 #3 Professional Association agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606067274 As a school counselor, offering training and assistance to help teachers provide a trauma-sensitive classroom environment can help all students feel secure and learn better.  Students that enter foster care are often exposed to child neglect or abuse, a parent with addiction or imprisoned, and other stressors.  Traumatized students can have trouble focusing and have more behavior issues. These students are sent to school without a warning for teachers and staff that work with them.

Flannery, M. E. (2016, May 17). How trauma is changing children’s brains. National Education Association | NEA. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/how-trauma-changing-childrens-brains]]> 2021-06-14 21:37:17 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606067274 #4 Current News Article agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606067812
  • U.S. District Judge Janis Jack found Texas to be violating foster youths educational rights in 2015.
  • The Department of Family and Protective Services and the Health and Human Services Commission has made progress since then, but still has areas of child endangerment that need to be corrected.
  • Foster placements and shelters licensing have been surrendered for child safety due to physical abuse, sexual abuse,  neglectful supervision and medical neglect.
  • State officials have been instructed to document children with a history of abuse and sexual aggression.

    • Oxner, R. (2021, May 7). “Serious, harmful consequences”: Texas continues placing foster children in harm’s way, court monitors find. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/06/texas-foster-care-system-lawsuit/
    ]]>     2021-06-14 21:37:48 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606067812     #5 Current News Article agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606068253
  • Students who have been in foster care complete high school, college and vocational training at lower rates than other students.
  • "Placement in foster care puts them at a high risk of emotional and behavioral problems that can adversely affect educational attainment" (Grubs, 2020).
  • Postsecondary education is more difficult for foster youth because of lack of family ad financial support.
  • The Education Code requires each Texas public institution of higher education (IHE) to have a foster-care liaison to identify former foster youth and inform them of financial  services available to them.
  • Services include tuition waivers, transitional living services, and supervised independent living.
  • "Texas’ current and former foster youths are at a high risk of poor educational outcomes that can damage their prospects for economic success and a better life" (Grubs, 2020).
    • Grubs, S. (2020). Helping foster youths in higher education. Comptroller.Texas.Gov. https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/fiscal-notes/2020/apr/education.php
    ]]>     2021-06-14 21:38:15 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606068253     #9 Judicial Law agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606068782  M.D. v. Abbott (5th Cir. 2020)
    *a class-action lawsuit brought by children in foster care claiming they were subjected to serious harms by the neglect and abuse of the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, or DFPS.
    *After years of arguing in court, the court ordered the government to fix the system.
    *In 2019, judge has found the state officials in contempt of court for failing to take care of court orders.
    *This is an ongoing case to continue monitoring for knowledge of foster student placements.

    https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/19-41015/19-41015-2020-10-16.html
     
    ]]>     2021-06-14 21:38:45 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606068782     #6 Constitutional Law agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606069790 The 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America: 
    * All citizens are guaranteed equal protection of their rights, as described throughout the amendments, and equal protection of the laws.” 
    * It gives people the right to be free from harm while in state custody.

    Reference:
    U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1.

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv]]>     2021-06-14 21:39:28 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606069790     #7 Statutory Law agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606070024 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA):
    *    A law that protects the privacy of student education records.
    * The law permits sharing of records under specific circumstances.
    * Jurisdictions may  consider a foster parent or other caretaker as the parent under FERPA and therefore grant each the right to access education records.
    (20 U.S.C. § 1232g)

    Reference:
    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99)

    https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html]]>     2021-06-14 21:39:43 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606070024     #8 State Administrative Law agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606070220 40 Texas Administration Code, Section 700.1630 - Tuition and Fee Waiver for Youth Returning to a Parent:
    *This exempts or waives payment of tuition and fees at state supported colleges or universities for foster youth currently or formerly in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and for those adopted from DFPS.  
    * Qualify if one returned to the legal responsibility of your parent on or after June 1, 2016 at either age 14 or 16
    *Qualify if one had a permanent guardian granted to a non-parent on or after September 1, 2009.
    *Must use before the age of 25.

    (40 TAC §700.1630)

    https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=40&pt=19&ch=700&rl=1630
    ]]>     2021-06-14 21:39:55 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606070220     #10 Local law/policy/rule agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606070876 *Foster youth that enrolls in the district after the beginning of the school year will be allowed credit-by-examination opportunities outside the district’s established testing windows, and the district will grant proportionate course credit by semester (partial credit) when a student only passes one semester of a two-semester course.
    *Student may remain in school district when foster placement is outside of school district boundaries
    *Student that does not meet graduation requirements in district of placement can request diploma from KISD if graduation criteria is met.
    *Kaufman Independent School District has an Director of Student Services that oversees programs that affect students academics and social needs, such as those in foster care.

    Kaufman Independent School District. (2020). Student handbooks. https://www.kaufmanisd.net/resources/student-handbooks]]>     2021-06-14 21:40:31 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606070876     #11 Ethical Principle agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606071129 According to ASCA ethical standard, a school counselor has many responsibilities to students. A school counselor has the responsibility to support student development in academic, career, and social emotional needs (ASCA Section A.1.e). Students in foster care often come have unique educational and emotional needs due to stressors and barriers that come from foster placement(s).

    American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf]]>     2021-06-14 21:40:47 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606071129     #12 Personal Connection agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606071687 Knowledge was gained after viewing different laws, articles, and ethical codes related to serving foster youth. A school counselor should stay informed of the states issues with the foster care system and the services available for foster students. Foster youth experience a lot of instability. School counselors can offer some stability at school. There are many laws involving educating foster students. A high school counselor can help maintain a students legal privacy while supporting student post-secondary goals with state mandated supports. Counselors can ethically support foster students emotional needs from the stressors that come from unfamiliar placements and becoming social targets. ]]> 2021-06-14 21:41:09 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606071687 #13 Recommendations/Best Practice for Compliance agarrison21 https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606072022 Recommendations related to educational and counseling practice for supporting foster youth:
    1. Maintain confidentiality of placement and services.
    2. Connect and communicate with all schools during times of transitions.
    3. Ensure appropriate enrollment and academic services.
    4. Collaborate with foster/biological family and CPS representatives.
    5. Implement practices to help student transition and find social success in new school environment.
    6. Provide individual and group support for student academic and emotional needs.
    7. Inform foster students or  resources available to help students access postsecondary opportunities.

    ]]>     2021-06-14 21:41:28 UTC https://padlet.com/agarrison21/5ym3yxua7dcm39fp/wish/1606072022