Foster Care Report - September 2006

NOVA SCOTIA

Introduction

Foster family placements are the most commonly used alternative form of care for children and youth residing outside of their birth family care. District Offices of the Department of Community Services and Child and Family Services agencies provide approval and support services for foster families.

Recruitment, pre-assessment services and education and training are delivered by the Department of Community Services through Regional Placement Resource Teams within the four regions of the Province.

The Department of Community Services provides overall policy, procedures, and guidelines for the operation of the Foster Care Program. Recommendations for policy development are determined by the Provincial Joint Committee on Foster Care. The Committee consists of equal representation from the four regions in social work, supervisory staff, and foster families. The Committee also includes the Provincial Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia, the Child in Care Program and is chaired by the Provincial Coordinator of Foster Care.

Types of Foster Care

There are three categories of foster care in Nova Scotia: regular foster care homes, parent counsellor homes and special relative/non-relative foster homes.

Regular Foster Care Homes

These foster families have been approved by Agency and District Office staff to provide care to children and youth. They receive daily maintenance monies and reimbursable child in care expenses under the Child in Care Program.

Since 2000 the Department of Community Services began the implementation of a competency based model of foster care resulting in 4 levels of placement services. Foster parents are reviewed regularly and are assessed by the foster care worker utilizing the 5 essential core competencies required to provide care for children and youth.

• Pre-service
• Introductory
• Advanced
• Specialized

Parent Counsellor Homes

These foster families receive additional training and therapeutic support to provide care for children and youth with a high level of special needs. They receive a monthly honorarium, as well as the per diem child in care rate when a child or youth is placed in their home. The regions administer the parent counselor program.

Special Relative/Non-Relative Foster Homes

This category includes families who are friends or relatives of a child in care and have been approved specifically for a child or sibling group. These are child-or youth-specific homes that were initiated through child protection and eventually approved through the Foster Care Program.

Recruitment, Pre-Service and Training

In the Fall of 2000, the Department of Community Services implemented Foster Care Resource Teams in the four regions to deliver Recruitment and Pre-Assessment Services for all potential foster parent applicants as well as the delivery of ongoing training services for all approved foster families.

General inquiries are directed through a toll free telephone number and receive prompt and personal contact from the Pre-Service Recruitment Social Worker. Criminal record checks, child abuse register checks, references, medical reports and any other professional reports are requested as the foster parent applicant progresses through the Orientation Program for foster families.

The Orientation Program is essential to the pre-assessment process and is mandatory for all foster parent applicants. The program is funded solely by the Department of Community Services and is presented jointly by the Recruitment, Pre-Service Social Worker and approved Foster Parent Trainers provided through the Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia. At the completion of the six session program, a prospective foster parent's= application is forwarded to the local Child Welfare Agency for the Family Assessment Home Study.

Approved Regular and Parent Councillor Foster Parents are required to attend mandatory Core Training;

• P.R.I.D.E Module I - The Foundation For Meeting The Developmental Needs Of Children At Risk
• P.R.I.D.E Module II - Using Discipline to Protect and Nurture, and Meet Developmental Needs
• Two Day Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and an annual one day Refresher Program
• Two Day Sensitivity Training for Foster Families
• One Day First Aid (Level "C")

The Department of Community Services continues to implement the P.R.I.D.E (Core) In-Service Training and now offers a total of 8 P.R.I.D.E modules with the ongoing implementation of new modules each year.

Approval/Review/Evaluation

Areas of Foster Family Assessment include health of applicants and other family members, financial management, problem solving abilities, attitudes and practices towards discipline, parental skills, abilities and relationships, as well as, the general attitudes of children and youth within the current family structure. Final Foster Home Approval results in the placement of a child or youth.

The foster home is reviewed six months after approval with a competency based annual review thereafter. The review includes adjustments to fostering, changes in the family circumstances, and any problems experienced during placement. Foster care social workers are required to document performance indicators on the foster care file. If deemed necessary, help is provided to assist in the development of family strengths and coping skills.

Appeals/Complaints

Foster parents who are dissatisfied with a service or case decision are encouraged to follow the local agency/district office Complaint Procedures.

Allegations of Abuse or Neglect

The protocol for the investigation of allegations of abuse and/or neglect in foster care establishes the procedures for the child protection investigation. Investigations are conducted by an agency other than the home agency to avoid a conflict of interest or perceived bias.

Support can be offered to foster families undergoing an investigation from the foster care worker or through the Foster Allegation Support Services Program provided by the Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia and funded by the Department of Community Services.

Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia

The Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia (FFFNS) is an organization for foster families run by foster parents to serve and support one another as caregivers to children requiring substitute care. The organization represents approximately 700 approved foster parents in the province and is funded through the Department of Community Services (DCS).

The Federation, the Executive Director, the office staff, and the local foster family associations promote quality foster care via advocacy, education, information sharing, policy recommendations, and maintaining the lines of communication between foster families, agencies/district offices, and government.

Expenses for foster parent participation in training is re-imbursed for foster families through the FFFNS as provided by the DCS through an annual Service Agreement and subsequent budget.

Changes in policy and procedures are relayed to the Federation for distribution to all foster families throughout the Province. Contact the Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia by telephone at (902) 424-3071 or by fax at (902) 424-5199 or by e-mail at Godfrekc@gov.ns.ca.

Foster Care Rates

The Department of Community Services is committed to the ongoing restructuring of the Foster Care System towards a competency based model of assessment, approval, and ongoing skill development with an Introductory, Advanced, and Specialized Levels of Care.

Regular Foster parents receive daily skill fees determined by their level of experience, training, and assessed level of competency in caring for children and youth. Daily honorariums from the DCS are provided for placement services:

Foster Care Maintenance Rates

Establishment of Rates

Maintenance expenditures for children in care are reviewed by the Department of Community Services after consultations with agencies, and the Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia, and following approval by the Minister. Child in care maintenance per diem rates are the responsibility of the Child in Care Program.

Maintenance Expenditures for Children in Care

Additional funds may be provided with prior approval based on policy, to provide services or items needed by children in care, such as therapy, youth alternative workers, tutoring, etc. Special per diem rates are also available to foster families based on the extraordinary needs of the child. Revisions to this policy were started in 2005.

Child In Care Rates*

Board Rates
Age	Per Diem
0-9 years	$13.77
10+ years	$20.02
Clothing Allowance
Age	Three times per year
0-4 years	$157.00
5-9 years	$259.00
10+ years	$362.00
Spending Allowance (Effective March 1, 1999)
Age	Monthly
0-5 years	$10.00
6-11 years	$15.00
12-15 years	$25.00 paid to child
16+ years	$40.00 paid to child
School Supplies (Effective March 1, 1999)
Age	Annually
5-9 years	$70.00
10-20 years	$120.00
Christmas Allowance (Effective March 1, 1999)
Age	Annually
6-10 years	$145.00 ($125 for caregiver to buy child's gift, $20 for child to buy gifts)
11-12 years	$190.00 ($150 to caregiver to buy child's gift and $40 for child to buy gifts)

* An increase has been scheduled for 2006/07

Substitute Care Arrangements

Placement with extended family

This option is explored prior to and as an alternative to a child coming into permanent care and custody. Family members may choose to apply to the courts for custody through the Family Maintenance and Custody Act.

Contact

Jill A. Wilson Kingston
Co-ordinator of Foster Care
Tel: (902) 424-1188
Fax: (902) 424-0708
Email: wilsonja@gov.ns.ca

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