Working with Foster Children/Students by Kayla Kohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53 Legal and Ethical Principles en-us 2021-06-10 19:57:26 UTC 2025-12-20 00:31:30 UTC hello@padlet.com kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1618274658 Slide 1 Professional Perspective/Audience/Topic: From my professional perspective as a professional school counselor at elementary level, I think it is very important to address the current state of legal and ethical principles that affect students currently in the foster care system.]]> 2021-06-21 20:05:56 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1618274658 Slide 2 Interview kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1626384813 Students in the foster care system:

1.       This legal guide topic is important in the field of education because there are an increasing number of students entering the foster care system.  These students are at higher risk for having an increased number of absences and higher school drop out rates.  Knowing the indicators for at risk students will help balance and steady their educational experience.  Providing a safe school environment for kids in the foster care system is imperative for their success.

2.      Best Practices: 
·         Strong relationships between school and child welfare agencies.
·         Positive school climate.
·         Training- counselors need evidence-based information to effectively serve this population.

3.        There is currently a house bill, HB 2975, that relates to prohibiting the physical restraint of certain students by peace officers and school security personnel under certain circumstances with this student population.   This will be seen more in the future as different procedures and interventions are put in place to handle or diffuse behavior problems.  This particular law does not apply to older students but instead those 10 years old and younger.  This will impact educators and how they handle behavior problems for this specific population.

4.  Wendy Hollabaugh, CFE Coordinator, Big Country Casa, https://bigcountrycasa.org/big-country-casa-staff/


]]> 2021-06-26 13:50:38 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1626384813 Slide 3 Professional Association kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1626385345 Reference: Texas Education Agency. (2020). Foster care and success - education laws and guidance. https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/foster-care-and-student-success/foster-care-student-success-education-laws-and-guidance

This resource discusses the fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Public Law 110-351.  It covers FEPRA, nutrition assistance, outside educational resources, state laws for addressing students in foster care and how to support successful school transitions.]]> 2021-06-26 13:51:38 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1626385345 Slide 4 Current News Article kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1626390291 This article discusses students currently in the foster care system, their trauma, and supportive classroom practices to help these students. 

Classroom practices include:
*creating a sense of safety
*giving students a sense of control of their environment
*working to ensure students feel connected
*teaching self regulation skills

The article also provides valuable information on what you can do when or if a student shares personal information with you. 

Lastly it discusses how educators can foster youth as the exit the system.

Reference:
Alber, B. (2019). Supporting students living in foster care.  http://www.edutopia.org/article/supporting-students-living-foster-care

]]> 2021-06-26 13:59:05 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1626390291 Slide 5 Current News Article kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1648096299 This article discusses student absentee rates and school outreach to families in distress and how this can be critical in reducing  the number of students entering the foster care system. This article also discusses the Family First Act and what it provides.

Reference:
Sparks, S. (2019). School changes can help keep students in class, out of the foster system. http://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-changes-can-help-keep-students-in-class-ut-of-foster-system/2019/04]]> 2021-07-13 20:34:06 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1648096299 Slide 6 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1648118918 State Level Law
Statutory Law
Citation: Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.008 (2015)
Link: Texas Family Code Section 263.008 - Foster Children's Bill of Rights (2019) (public.law)

  • This law creates the Foster Care Bill of Rights for children in foster care.
  • The child's rights relate to abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and harassment; food, clothing, shelter, and education; and medical (much more is encompassed in the Foster Care Bill of Rights).
]]> 2021-07-13 21:12:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1648118918 Slide 7 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1649668302 Administrative Law
Citation: 42 U.S.C. 666(f)(1994).
Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/us/1994/title42/chap6/subchapiv_2/partd/sec666

  • Title 42 is public health and welfare.
  • Chapter 6 refers to the Children's Bureau.
  • Subchapter IV_2-Subchapter IV - provides grants to states for aid and services to needy families with children and for child welfare programs.


]]> 2021-07-14 16:35:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1649668302 Slide 8 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1649851079 Constitutional Law
Citation: U.S. Const. amend. XIV
Link: U.S. Constitution - Fourteenth Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Constitutional law requires that all children be given an equal opportunity to free education. This law is intended to be free of bias. This benefits foster youth as they are often times in very troubled situations and prefer to not experience bias or pity because of their situation. It also benefits them because no matter where they are relocated to, they will have free education, no matter the circumstance.
Doesn't matter if you are:
  • rich
  • poor
  • White/Black/Asian
  • religious or not
  • citizen or non citizen
You are entitled to free education.

]]> 2021-07-14 20:29:00 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1649851079 Slide 9 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651392678 Judicial Law (Federal Judicial Law)
Link: H.R.867 - 105th Congress (1997-1998): Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Original Law Citation: Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105-89, 111 Stat. 2115.  http://www.congress.gov

Amendment: Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Public Law 110-351

This law benefits and encourages foster youth to seek higher education. Starting in 2011, youth up to ages 19, 20, and 21 could receive federal financial reimbursement.
Qualifications:
  • must finish high school or an equivalency program
  • enrolled in post-secondary or vocational school
  • must be employed for 80 hours per month
  • participate in job enhancing opportunities
  • medically incapable of meeting the above qualifications
More info at:  Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (nacac.org)

]]> 2021-07-15 16:35:01 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651392678 Slide 10 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651392804 Local Administrative Law
Link: Homeless Education | Abilene Independent School District (abileneisd.org)
Abilene Independent School District McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program
Reference: AbileneISD. (n.d.). Abilene Independent School District McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program. http://www.abileneisd.org/our-district/homeless-education/

  • Qualify to receive transportation from their current residence back to their school of origin
(This policy applies to foster youth as well).

Foster youth are usually uprooted from everything that is familiar to them, new home, new rules, different family, etc.  This policy provides transportation for foster and homeless youth so they can continue at their current school.

]]> 2021-07-15 16:35:08 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651392804 Slide 11 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651421241 Ethical Principle
Link:Ethical-Standards.pdf (schoolcounselor.org)
Reference: American School Counselor Association. (2016).  ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. http:/www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/fo41cdb0-7004-47a5-ba0-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf

"A.2 Confidentiality
(d) Explain the limits of confidentiality in developmentally appropriate terms through multiple methods such as a student handbooks, school counselor department websites, school counseling brochures, classroom lessons and/or verbal notification to students," (ASCA, 2016, A.2(e)).
  • There is a lot of information that comes with foster youth and most of that information is confidential and does not need to be shared.  Teaches and foster youth are often times unaware of confidentiality laws and it would be beneficial for counselors to have multiple tools in their counseling toolbelt to advise when needed.
]]> 2021-07-15 17:02:56 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651421241 Slide 12 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651470146 Personal Connection:
The specific topic I chose does not apply to my personal educational journey.  However,  I am a CASA and I am involved in the educational needs of my CASA kiddo.  These laws and ethics help me to help her.  I am grateful there are laws out there at all levels that help foster youth.  They did not choose to be in their current situations and often times they  need extra help.  These laws provide educational, medical and financial help for foster youth.]]> 2021-07-15 18:00:53 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651470146 Slide 13 kkohutek https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651476290 Best Practices:
1. Strong relationships between school, students, case workers and foster parents.
2. Evidence based trainings.
3. Positive school climate.
4.  Open communication
5.  Be knowledgeable of legislation and resources that  benefit foster youth.
6. Engage students in school]]> 2021-07-15 18:08:43 UTC https://padlet.com/kkohutek/lrnxggi8qfnxdl53/wish/1651476290