Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
Discipline Practices.................................................................................................................................... 12
Prohibited Discipline Practices................................................................................................................ 12
Homework..................................................................................................................................................... 15
a. What will you do? How will you get to the meeting in time? What formal or informal
supports will you call upon with such short notice?
b. As a parent in this situation, is there anything that you could have done beforehand to ensure
attending the meeting on time?
3. You received a call from your foster child’s (age 10) school to inform you that he has been
suspended for 3 days due to fighting. You and your husband work full time.
a. How will you provide the necessary supervision for the next three days? What formal or
informal supports (if any) will you call upon to help with supervision?
b. How supportive is your employer when it comes to “family matters?” Could you get time
off on short notice?
3. You’re stuck in major traffic on your way home from work and will be at least one hour late
picking up your foster child from basketball practice.
a. What will you do? What formal or informal supports will you call upon?
Imagine that you’ve just lost the physical custody of your three children.
You are a single father, who was working full time until six weeks ago when you lost your job
because of the economy. It wasn’t a great job, but you had worked there long enough to finally earn
enough money to pay your bills and be off welfare.
The children’s mother is terminally ill and needs kidney dialysis due to years of alcoholism. She is
not expected to live longer than six months.
You had to move your family twice in the past 10 months, and all three kids experienced big
adjustment problems at school.
You have no extended family in the area, and no one seems willing to help you out.
You have begun to feel like killing yourself is the only answer.
Discussion Questions:
3. How might you feel and think about the foster parents caring for your kids?
4. What is the best thing that a foster family could do for you?
You have been married for eight years, and your spouse is away from home most of the time due to
his job as an overnight shift worker.
Your 6th grade son is seriously hyperactive and has been repeatedly suspended from school during
the past year. He doesn’t listen to you and gets so wild at home that you have to physically hold him
down to manage his behavior.
Your husband sometimes loses his temper when your son is caught hitting his younger siblings.
The husband has left bruises on him when this has happened.
Your five year-old daughter was diagnosed with mental retardation and is not yet completely toilet
trained. She suffers from frequent serious ear infections, and may become deaf as a result.
You believe that you could keep all of the kids safe and healthy if only you had more money and
support in the home.
Discussion Questions:
3. How might you feel and think about the foster parents caring for your kids?
4. What is the best thing that a foster family could do for you?
Imagine that you’ve just lost the physical custody of your three children. This is the second time
that your children were taken from you.
You were born into a family where your father beat up your mother and was accused of sexually
molesting the kids. He was put in prison and your mom went to a battered women’s shelter.
Along with your siblings, you were placed in foster care at age 6 and eventually adopted.
You haven’t heard from your siblings in years and don’t know where they are.
Your children’s father left 15 months ago and has not been in contact since.
You stopped taking your anti-depressant medication because it gives you headaches and makes you
sleep all the time.
Despite your vow to be a good parent, you are deeply afraid that you have failed as a mother.
Discussion Questions:
3. How might you feel and think about the foster parents caring for your kids?
4. What is the best thing that a foster family could do for you?
Afterwards, Sue called the Treatment guilty. Thank the person for his or her
Coordinator, Mr. Mike. She explained about concern.
the phone call from Mrs. Conner and how • If the child is at fault, have the youth
the upset neighbor threatened not only to call apologize and, if appropriate, “pay-
the police, but also to call a neighborhood back” as appropriate.
meeting to warn other families to stay away.
She added that she was proud of her ability
to advocate positively on behalf of John and There are other reasons or circumstances
that the matter seemed to have been settled. for which your foster child may need your
advocacy. These include when:
“From what you’ve told me, you did a great
job talking with Mrs. Conner about John,” Mr. • The child’s behavior is misunderstood
Mike told Sue. “I’m thinking that it might be by others.
important now to sit down with John and help • The child didn’t know any better; the
him understand what gestures of affection norms, rules or expectations weren’t
are appropriate both inside and out of their clear or unspoken.
home”. Mr. Mike helped Sue come up with a • The child misbehaved or acted-out.
plan for how she would explain this to John. • The child is wrongfully accused of
something he didn’t do.
• The child is treated unfairly or singled
• Remain calm as you listen to the out
complaint or accusation. Don’t argue. • The child is not getting the support or
Actively listen to feelings of anger, help (proper services) he needs.
disappointment, worry or concern that
are expressed. If you seriously doubt Each of these situations will require a
the accuracy of someone’s complaint, different advocacy approach. Perhaps in the
express surprise rather than disbelief. near future, you will have an opportunity to
• Remain objective and avoid pre- attend an in-service training that focuses on
judging anyone, especially the child, these strategies.
before speaking with all concerned
persons. Use messages such as, By engaging in skillful advocacy both outside
“I’m confident that we’ll work out a and inside of your treatment home, you
reasonable solution if John really did protect both your foster child and your family.
such a thing” or “if Lisa is the one Not only are foster children more likely to
responsible for this.” be perceived as “guilty” of serious offenses,
• Assure that you will bring the matter but foster parents are at a greater risk for
up with the youth as quickly as allegations as well. Well-intentioned or not,
possible and thank the person for people will make assumptions about what
bringing the problem to your attention. they see or hear and may not understand your
• Contact the person(s) to let him or work with troubled children.
her know that the problem has been
resolved to your satisfaction or that
a mistake has been made and you
are convinced that the youth is not
and bathroom. Wearing pajamas outside without having to make mistakes through trial
of the bedroom is okay as long as tops and and error.
bottoms are worn.
Consider that an innocent hug between parent
Sharing and use of property and child in your home may have a very
different meaning to a sexually abused child.
Family members do not take someone else’s
Likewise, even a joking comment from a
property without first asking for, and receiving
treatment parent such as, “Quiet down or I’ll
their permission. We also return borrowed
tan your hide!” can be heard quite differently
property when we say we will or as soon as
by your own children and a child who is the
the owner requests the return of the item.
victim of past physical abuse.
Trading ownership of, or giving away items
is allowed only when an adult is informed
It is important that your family’s practices be
beforehand.
clearly defined to avoid misperceptions.
1. What are the biggest challenges to acting In addition to being forbidden, there are other
professionally in this situation? reasons for not using physical punishment:
2. What advocacy skills or approach would
you take in this situation? • Research shows that abuse often
begins with punishment involving
3. How might a family policy address this
physical contact.
situation?
• Physical punishment also reinforces
children’s belief that physical violence,
Situation # 3 even at a limited level, is acceptable.
Your 9 year-old foster son, Jason, is crying in • Children who have experienced
his room. When asked why he is so upset, he physical abuse in the past are likely to
says that he isn’t allowed to play with his best interpret any physical punishment as
friend anymore. This friend told Jason that abuse, resulting in re-traumatizing the
his mother, your neighbor, said that Jason was child.
no longer welcome at their house because of • In a later unit, we will teach you more
his past “sexual behavior.” You are confused effective discipline techniques.
how this neighbor knew about Jason being
a victim of sexual abuse because you are Any such physical actions by treatment
certain that none of your family members parents or others must be reported to the
told anyone this information. When you ask program immediately. These discipline
the friend’s mother for details, she stated that restrictions apply even though a treatment
Jason had told her son about his past and she parent may have successfully used physical
was worried about her son’s safety around discipline while raising their own children.
Jason.
1. What are some challenges to acting In addition to physical punishment, there are
professionally in this situation? other behavior management practices that are
2. What advocacy skills or approach would strictly prohibited. They include:
you take in this situation?
• Physical punishment (hitting, spanking,
3. How might a family policy address this
shaking)
situation?
• Denying food, water, shelter (basic
needs)
• Corporal punishment
In most instances, the child making the It is critical to note that treatment parents are
allegation will be temporarily moved required to report both their suspicions of
to a home pending the outcome of the
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Parent Unit 3
Care of family pets: