Working with Children in Foster Care by Brittney Preston

Working with Children in Foster Care by Brittney Preston https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v Resources for school counselors when working with Children in Foster Care. en-us 2021-12-02 02:41:39 UTC 2021-12-02 06:58:25 UTC hello@padlet.com bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924275170 As a school counselor, I chose to create this legal pallet as a resource tool for educators working with Child Protective Services or Children in the Foster Care System. I chose this topic because as an elementary school counselor this is something that I have encountered and had to work through many times. As a new counselor, I was very hesitant and intermediated by Child Protective Services or the thought of having students in Foster Care System. I also get attached to my students, so it was always a fear to get emotional attached to these students and then never see them again. As a mom myself, I also have a hard time being compassionate for parents that struggle to take care of their children. It bothers me to see good kids struggle behaviorally and emotionally due to the circumstances around them. This topic is very important to school counselors and even educators because this is something we see often in our public school system. I hope that having this as a resource will help ease the mind of other school counselors and even some educators when working with these children, parents, and often times case workers. ]]> 2021-12-02 03:25:29 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924275170 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924331968 In the field of counseling, school counselors could potentially have to work with Child Protective Services on a regular basis. This could be with reporting, following up, or working with case workers due to foster students attending your school. In my past experience this is all handled by the school counselor and as the school counselor you meet with these students on a regular basis while they are at your campus. These students come from many different places with many different cases and it is the school counselors job to make sure they are okay and have the right tools to be as successful as possible. For this interview I interviewed Jill Linnell, an elementary school counselor at Edison Elementary School in Gainesville, Texas. Mrs. Linnell is a seasoned counselor when it comes to working with foster care students. She sat down with me and discussed how she handles working with students in the Foster Care System. Jill described working with students in the Foster Care System as one of the most challenging, yet rewarding parts of her job(personal communication, November 24, 2021). Jill feels that foster students often time lack coping skills on how to deal with negative situations. Jill feels that one of the true highlights of her job is to help these students learn coping mechanisms, and see the child use the skills in action.
She feels that being a consistent person in a foster child's life is rewarding and taxing at the same time. Jill finds it difficult to let go and separate from these students when they start to do well because she finds herself as the one consistent person in their lives and she never wants them to feel abandoned. She said at the same time, she has to trust in the skills she has taught them and trust that they will have support from foster parents. She feels strong emotions of sadness and happiness (J. Linnell, personal communication, November 24, 2021).
Due to the inconsistency of the Texas Foster Care System, these children can often times be bounced back and forth between homes. These students have little structure or consistency in their lives. They are often times just trying to survive the best way they can. This can present a lot of challenges when working with these students. Jill said it is important to remain consistent and teach them skills on how to deal with the daily obstacles. Teaching them the basic rules of how a family operates is often beneficial when bouncing from family member, to family member, and back to foster homes.
Mrs Linnell expressed her concern for the Texas Foster Care System. The increase in cases of abuse and neglect in the foster care system is growing, Jill said this negatively impacts their education and personal growth in a major way. It is important to be observant and watch for any signs of abuse or neglect. You aren't just working on issues from their own home life, she says you must be mindful of their home life in the present as well. Developing a relationship and a sense of trust is vital when working with foster children. As a counselor, she says you must be diligent, strong, and patient with these children. It takes time and lots of effort to get them to open up, so you can see progress and growth (J. Linnell, personal communication, November 24, 2021).

]]> 2021-12-02 04:09:05 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924331968 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924349423 The Texas Education Agency (TEA), is a wonderful resource for counselors and educators who are working with students in Foster Care. The TEA provides resources and information that will impact the education of Texas student's living in foster care. These materials provide guidance for the nearly 16,000 students in the Texas foster care system and their unique circumstances. TEA provides you with resources such as district liaisons, state efforts, collaboration, laws and guidance, and child protective services (Texas Education Agency, 2020).

Reference:
Texas Education Agency. (2020). Foster care & student success | texas education agency. Texas education agency. https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/foster-care-and-student-success/foster-care-student-success]]> 2021-12-02 04:23:48 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924349423 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924365437 The Texas Foster Care System is worsening day by day for these children. Due to the increase in numbers, these children are being placed with untrained individuals and unlicensed facilities, which is illegal. The harm foster children go through is beyond loneliness and missed meals. These children are being subjected to physical, mental, and even sexual abuse while in placement. The foster care crisis is now on the call for special session. The hardships of these children fall on the counselor in the educational setting. It is our job to help aid in this crisis situation. School counselors are going to have to be trained on how to best serve this specific student population with numbers growing rapidly(Bohra & Oxner, 2021).

Reference:
Bohra, N., & Oxner, R. (2021, July 19). Texas foster care crisis worsens, with fast-growing numbers of children sleeping in offices, hotels, churches. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/19/texas-foster-care-crisis/]]> 2021-12-02 04:36:22 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924365437 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924376945 Despite the failing of our Texas Foster Care System, some students are showing remarkable resiliency. Judge Sakai went straight to the children to ask how the system had failed them and what could be done to fix it. These children did not have a say as to where they were born, their parents circumstances, or the challenges they would face, but maybe now their voices are about to be heard (Fletcher, 2021). As a school counselor, we are their advocates. We have to advocate for their educational needs. It is crucial that their needs are met, so that they can be successful socially, emotionally, and academically. Working with theses students will present our own challenges, but with the right resources and tools they can be successful.

Reference:
Fletcher, K. (2021, October 5). Texas foster care system is failing our children. San Antonio Report. https://sanantonioreport.org/texas-foster-care-system-kathleen-fletcher/

]]> 2021-12-02 04:46:39 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924376945 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924396002 In order to promote school stability and improve a foster child's educational outcome, this law required collaboration between child welfare agencies and state and local education agencies.
-Emphasis on school stability.
-Coordination between the state and , child welfare, and local and state educational agencies
-placements account current education setting and proximity to the school
-immediate and appropriate enrollment
(U.S. Const. H. R. 6893).]]> 2021-12-02 05:05:28 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924396002 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924436129 The Texas Education Code, TEC § 25.007provides numerous components when making school transitions successful for students placed in foster care. Section 25.007. A lot of these responsibilities may fall on the school counselor.
-Transfer records within 10 working days
-develop practices to was transition for the first two weeks
-give credit or partial credit, if appropriate, for coursework, including electives, while enrolled in another school
-allow access to extracurricular programs, summer programs, transfer credits, electronic courses at nominal or no cost.

-establish procedures to lessen the negative impact of moving
-establish a relationship and understanding with DFPS regarding information exchanging from one school to another.
-admission services when applying for post-secondary studies

-accept special education referrals from previous schools
-provide notice to child's educational decision maker and caseworker regarding events that may significantly impact the education of a child.

TEC § 25.007

]]> 2021-12-02 05:46:52 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924436129 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924445648 According to the state statute- Family Code Chapter 264. Child Welfare Services states that a child who is not in conservatorship of the state is allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, in and out of school social activities, cultural and enrichment activities, and employment opportunities (Tex. Family Code § 264.001).]]> 2021-12-02 05:56:21 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924445648 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924462603 On September 13, 2021, the court monitors in M.D. v. Abbott filed a report on safety concerns regarding children without placement and the foster care capacity crisis. The report stated there were substantial risks to children's safety associated with Texas's decision to continue housing children in unregulated settings, such as offices, unlicensed facilities and cottages, or in hotels and motels. The interviews, supervision of DFPS staff and settings, as well as extensive reviews of State records, confirm that by housing children in these unregulated settings, "Texas has assigned children to caregivers who are overburdened and not well-trained to ensure their safety, placing them at an unreasonable risk of serious harm." On September 14, 2021, a judge conducted a hearing in which she responded to DFPS' claim that her orders created the capacity crisis. the judge said the state of Texas was failing to police bad foster care providers and then blaming her orders for a subsequent bed shortage after she forced the state to act.

Citation:
M.D. v. Abbott et al. (2021).]]> 2021-12-02 06:12:18 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924462603 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924472461 Education in Foster Care:
-Increase cross-system awareness
-Build partnerships: courts, child welfare, and education
-Educate yourself about the Foster Care System
-Know your responsibility and expectations as a District Foster Care Liaison
-Identifying students and painting confidentiality
-School Enrollment for students in foster care
-Promoting school stability and effective transfers]]> 2021-12-02 06:21:37 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924472461 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924484692 The ASCA (2018) outlines the role of the school counselor when implementing programs to meet the social, emotional, career, and academic needs of all students. It is the duty of the school counselor to realize that some students and their situations are at a higher risk, youth in foster care tend to be high risk due to being underserved and over-looked (American School Counselors Association, 2018).

Provide students with a stable learning enviroment
Effective communication between schools during transitions
Promote resilience and identify protective factors
Collaborate with foster/biological family and community stakeholders
Display awareness of the challenges students face
Inform students of resources available to help students access postsecondary training opportunities

Reference:
American School Counselors Association. (2018). The school counselor and supporting students in foster care - american school counselor association (asca). American school counselors association. https://schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Supporting-Students-in-Fo

]]> 2021-12-02 06:33:24 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924484692 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924499116 Even as a new counselor, I have seen first hand the impact foster care has on a child's social, emotional, career, and academic development and success. I have also seen how these children slip through the cracks of the educational system and do not receive the proper services. In the state of Texas, our foster care system is flawed and need of new laws and mandates. It is crucial that we will these students be successful despite their tough upbringing and constant obstacles they face. These students need counselors and educators more than ever to be their advocate for change. The Texas Education Agency and the American School Counselors Association has some great tools and resources readily available to help counselors and educators see the needs of this specific student population. Understanding the legal and ethical resources already in place for foster care students gives school counselors step by step details of the steps we are to be taking when helping these students.

Through communication and resources school counselors must try to promote resilience and foster a stable environment. In order for foster students to be successful, school counselors must work collaboratively with all stakeholders involved. You must also build a relationship based on trust, stability, and consistency.]]> 2021-12-02 06:46:53 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924499116 bpreston31 https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924510942 Arlington Independent School District has a page on their district website about Education and Students in Foster Care. This website not only lists the Federal and State Laws that deal with foster care and education, but it has resources, frequently asked questions, and programs and services provided to these specific student population.
Reference:
Sisk, T. (n.d.). Education and students in foster care. Arlington ISD. https://www.aisd.net/district/departments/academic-services/transformational-learning/social-and-emotional-learning/student-outreach-services/education-and-students-in-foster-care/]]> 2021-12-02 06:57:20 UTC https://padlet.com/bpreston31/vsz14jga2706p37v/wish/1924510942