Not every foster system requires you to keep records of the childs well being. However I think it is very important to do so, and our program required it. Records can help advocate for the child.
Its important to record every visit, if the parent came to the visit on time or at all, if the parent was under the influence of something, was belligerent, how the parent tended to the child, and the childs reactions during and after the visit. This record can either help return the child to a deserving parent, or save a child from a sad fate.
Other information to record is how you take care of the child. Dr. appointments, prescriptions given, outings, information on how a child got a scrape or bruise, clothes and items purchased on behalf of the child. This may sound petty, but this record can help protect you if the biological parents lodge a complaint. This has happened, and while the child is no longer living with the parents, the parents do still have certain rights. You may feel that writing down how a child got a scratch a minute detail, but I know that I often forget how I get my own bumps and bruises.
There are several ways to keep records. You can write it all down like a journal, or log entry. You can scrapbook it. You can videotape it. You dont have to have every last detail, but you need to have enough to show consistency.
My Boy 2 is a head banger. When he was a baby he had a small sore on his forehead caused by banging his head against the crib rails. Just before his parents rights were terminated, Boy 2 had to visit his mother every weekend. Before he left on Friday that sore was nearly healed. When he came home on Sunday the sore was always open, bleeding, and larger. I recorded this, and that along with other information helped to terminate the parents rights.
Be careful about recording your own feelings in the record. You cant say that you feel the child was naughty after a visit because the mother was annoying him. Just record the facts. Had a visit, how the mother acted, how the child acted afterward. Always respect the parent in your actions and documentation.
You need to look at the records as a voice for the child. They may not be able to speak for themselves what is happening. Even if they could, they may not understand the significance of it.
This article is linked to Adoption Options ~ Our Journey Through Foster Care Part III, Training Classes |
