Foster Parents Need the Freedom to Be "Normal" Parents
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Implementing the law...will ensure that foster parents say 'no' because they're deciding as a parent and not because of an unclear or complicated administrative process. |
In 2014, Congress passed the Strengthening Families Act (SFA), a law aimed at promoting “normalcy” for youth in foster care. Many states, including Pennsylvania, are currently considering bills to implement the SFA. Usually, advocates use “normalcy” to refer to typical, everyday experiences – like sports, school activities, or social outings – that are an important part of growing up. But, foster youth often describe normalcy more simply: they want to feel like part of a family and want their foster parents to treat them “like one of their own kids.” Allowing foster parents to have the freedom to make reasonable and prudent decisions like any other parent is an important part of promoting normalcy for foster youth.
Youth say they feel “normal” when foster parents do things like take them shopping for a prom dress or when they can invite friends to their foster parent’s house. The SFA promotes this important aspect of normalcy via the “reasonable and prudent parent” standard. Foster parents, many of whom are parents themselves, often want to treat their foster children just like other members of the family. But, foster parents often deny foster youth permission for routine, age-appropriate activities due to real or perceived administrative barriers. For example, a foster parent can allow their biological child to go on an overnight school field trip, but their foster child would have to miss out on the opportunity because of a complicated administrative process.
The SFA’s “reasonable and prudent parent” standard empowers foster parents to make decisions about routine activities, just like any other parent. Foster parents can be trained on the standard and, like all parents, will assess any risks when making parenting decisions. This means foster parents can say “no” when they feel it’s appropriate. Providing youth in foster care with stability, safety, and happiness is the key goal of normalcy. Implementing the SFA, with support from child welfare agencies, will ensure that foster parents say “no” because they’re deciding as a parent and not because of an unclear or complicated administrative process.
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