Foster Care and Placement Flashcards

What is the 'fictive kin' concept in child welfare placements?

Answer: Individuals who have a significant, family-like relationship with a child even though they are not related by blood or marriage

Fictive kin are people with meaningful, pre-existing family-like relationships with the child (godparents, close family friends, neighbors) who may be considered for placement even without a biological relationship.

Which federal act specifically established requirements for states to provide older youth in foster care with independent living skills preparation?

Answer: Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP)

The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program provides federal funding for independent living services for youth aging out of foster care, including life skills, education, housing, and employment support.

A foster parent reports that the 8-year-old child placed in their home is wetting the bed every night. The most appropriate response is to:

Answer: Assess whether the bedwetting is trauma-related and connect the child with appropriate services while supporting the foster parent

Bedwetting in an 8-year-old is often a trauma symptom; the worker should assess the connection to the child's trauma history, connect with services, and support the foster parent with psychoeducation.

What is the primary purpose of visitation between children in foster care and their biological families?

Answer: To maintain family bonds, support reunification goals, and preserve the child's sense of identity and connection

Visitation maintains the parent-child relationship, supports reunification as the primary permanency goal, and helps children maintain their identity and family connections while in care.

When a foster parent wishes to adopt the child currently in their care, this arrangement is called:

Answer: Foster-to-adopt or legal-risk adoption

Foster-to-adopt (or legal-risk adoption) occurs when foster parents wish to adopt the child in their care if parental rights are terminated; it is called 'legal risk' because the outcome is not yet determined.

Which principle guides decisions about the type and level of care appropriate for a child's placement in foster care?

Answer: Least restrictive environment—placing children in the most family-like, community-integrated setting that meets their needs

The least restrictive environment principle requires placing children in the most normalized, family-like, community-integrated setting that can safely meet their needs, avoiding unnecessary institutionalization.