This presentation focuses on how a child protection worker used Signs of Safety tools to facilitate an introductory meeting between a birth parent and the permanent foster carers, and assisted in explaining the transition to the “forever family” for the child.
Home for Life carers provide care for children who are unable to return to their family and who do not have a permanent care option. The aim of this Program is to match children with carers and support the placement. The ongoing relationship between birth parents and foster carers is critical to the success of contact plans and stability of the placement.
During the transition of the child, a narrative using words and pictures was used to provide the child with an explanation of his early life experience and his pending move. The Three Columns approach was used for the introduction meeting of the birth parent and the Home for Life foster carers. Signs of Safety assisted in facilitating a difficult conversation about each stakeholder’s best hopes and worst fears. The birth parent and foster carers agreed to certain behaviours and attitudes that would best promote the child’s stability and identity as the primary focus. This Signs of Safety meeting highlighted the value of early preparation with the birth parent, Home for Life foster carers and workers, keeping the child at the centre of the decision making process. (Fostering and Adoption Services, Home for Life Program)
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