Activities & Experiences for

Children in Out-of-Home Care:

Making “Reasonable &

Prudent” Parenting Decisions

Training for Caregivers: Resource Parents & Residential Facility Staff

Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services, © 2015

Welcome and Introductions

• Introductions

• Review agenda & materials

• Group agreements

• And where is the rest room . . . .?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Learning Objectives By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Define key terms

• List key elements of the Law – PA HB 477

• Describe responsibilities

• Describe WHY this is important

• List examples of activities for all children including:

– Pregnant, Parenting and LGBTQ youth

– Children & Youth with disabilities

– Youth with Justice System Involvement

• Utilize safety plans

• Utilize guiding questions

• Access additional resources

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Memory Walk ~ Activities that were

Important in My Life: • Ages 0-5

• Ages 6-11

• Ages 12-18

• Ages 19-21

• As a parent

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Examples of Age or Developmentally

Appropriate Activities

• Family life

• Peers and friends

• School

• Community

• Becoming independent

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

“No-No’s”

– Religious training

– Education placement

– Non-routine physical/mental health treatment

– Use of psychotropic medications

– Activities that violate case plan or court order

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Intent and Focus -

• Normalcy, healthy development & opportunities for

children & youth

• Clarity & guidance for caregivers

• Clarity of roles for agencies & courts

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: WHY DO

WE NEED THESE LAWS & POLICIES?

Stories we’ve heard from youth

Some reasons it is hard for caregivers

Your turn – what are your experiences?

Cost of NOT providing normalcy

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

So – What do the Laws say?

PL 113-183 (Federal) & HB 477 ( PA

State)

List of Key provisions (Fed)

• Each child must have regular and ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities

• Each youth over 14 has opportunities to gain skills and participate in plans for transition to adulthood

• State agency must take steps (including training of caregivers) to ensure that caregivers are applying reasonable and prudent parent standard

• Specifics will be reviewed at every permanency hearing

List of Key Provisions (PA State)

• Every child must be able to engage in age appropriate activities to greatest extent possible, including children with special needs

• Older youth must be able to gain skills related for successful transition to adulthood

• Caregivers must use a clear set of guiding questions for consideration when making decisions

• Caregivers must receive training

• Child’s service plan must reflect access to these activities

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Key Definitions

• Normalcy

• Reasonable & Prudent Parent Standard

• Age or developmentally appropriate activities

• A few others . . .

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Who does this law apply to?

• Dependent children and youth - no age limits

• Children and youth in foster family homes, kinship care

homes, pre-adoptive homes

• Children and youth in group homes and other residential

settings

• Youth in Transitional living and Independent Living

• Some youth in shared responsibility cases

Who does this law NOT apply to?

• Youth in locked detention facilities

• Youth in accredited psychiatric/mental health treatment

facilities

• Children or youth in hospitals

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

CONSENT VS. NOTICE – WHAT’S THE

DIFFERENCE?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Role Plays Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

What Do I Need to Know?

• Developmental stages of children and youth including

– Cognitive

– Social & Emotional

– Physical

– Behavioral

• Talents, capacities, strengths and challenges of this particular child

• Impact of trauma or other special needs on participating in various

activities

– Recognizing trauma triggers

– Helping child develop safety plan

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Child Development – 0-5 – Major

Tasks

• Development of trust

• Language development &

communication

• Attachment/separation

• Resolve abandonment fears

• Body image and self-care

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Child Development – Ages 6 – 11 –

Major Tasks

• Mastery & achievement

• Abstract thinking

• Belonging

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Child Development –

Adolescents – Major Tasks

• Who Am I? Identity development

– Racial & ethnic

– Gender & sexuality

– Morals and values

• Fitting in with peers

• Coping with physical changes & body image

• Emerging independence

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Adolescent

Risk Taking & Brain Development

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Child Development & Children with

Special Needs

• Development may be uneven – ahead or “on track” in some areas,

behind in others

• Sees and wants to do the same things that age-group peers do

• How do we facilitate inclusion without stigmatizing?

• How do we facilitate growth and competence without increasing

risk?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Normalcy for Youth in Special

Circumstances ~ Providing Safety, Inclusion and Opportunity for

• Pregnant and parenting teens

• Young people who identify as LGBTQ or other non-

conforming expressions of gender and sexuality

• Youth with history of justice-system contact or involvement

• Other circumstances?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

What is Child Trauma? Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

How Does Trauma Affect The Child’s

Ability to Safely Engage in Activities

• Most of the time, the child will

behave and respond like a

typically developing child

• A trauma trigger can change

that

– The child can explode

– Or withdraw, shut-down

– Or simply take longer to settle

down and be ready to participate

• What examples have you seen?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Trauma Triggers & Safety Plans

• A child who experiences trauma triggers can still benefit from

participation in developmentally appropriate activities

• How can we ensure that the child and others around him will be safe

during the ball game, concert, mall-outing, sleep-over or other

activity?

• What can de do at home to prepare our child/youth to bring effective

coping skills into these situations?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

PUTTING THE KNOWLEDGE ALL

TOGETHER:

OBSERVING AND KNOWING THE

CHILD IN MY CARE

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

ENERGIZER

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

A Model for Decision Making

• Identify the Issue – What is the child really asking?

• Gather information

• Brainstorm

• Evaluate 0ptions

• Decide & act

• Later, reflect and learn

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

CASE SCENARIOS – SMALL GROUPS

So – Now It’s time to Practice

What questions will you ask yourself before you say yes or no?

Where will you look for guidance?

DECISION OPTIONS:

This is an appropriate situation for the caregiver to make a

decision, and the decision is YES

This is an appropriate situation for the caregiver to make a

decision, and the decision is NO

This is NOT an appropriate situation for the caregiver to make a

decision without consulting with the child’s caseworker

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Case Scenario De-Brief – Describe How

you Used the Decision-Making

Checklist: When and How were each of these factors relevant:

• Child's age, maturity and developmental level

• Appropriateness of the extracurricular, enrichment, cultural or social activity or experience.

• Child's wishes.

• Encouraging the child's emotional and developmental growth.

• Supporting the youth in developing skills to successfully transition to adulthood.

• Providing the child with the most family-like living experience possible.

• Any special needs accommodations, or trauma-safety plans that the child may need to safely and fully participate in the activity or experience.

• Potential risk factors to the child or to others

• Best interest of the child, based on information known by the caregiver.

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Does Saying “Yes” Guarantee a

Good Outcome?

• Trying and “failing” is an important part of life

• Pushing back against parental or other authority is age-

appropriate

• Sometimes “natural” consequences result in lasting life

lessons.

• How can you use these as “teaching opportunities?”

• Do you have examples?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Avoiding the “L” word (*liability )

• Keeping the “reasonable” and “prudent” in the “parenting” equation

will minimize liability

• Remember, activities cannot violate service plans or court orders

• Use the 3-part “sniff test”

– “My Mom”

– “Front Page”

– “My Child” or “Golden Rule”

• What other questions should you ask if liability is a concern?

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Agency Expectations

Standards, Consent vs. Notification requirements, Documentation

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS

Additional Questions or Discussions

• Let’s review some additional resources available

• Please complete your evaluation

• Thank you!

Becoming a “Reasonable

and Prudent” Parent

© 2015 PCCYFS