4.4.4 Behavioral Foster Family
A behavioral foster family is utilized to achieve specific treatment goals. Behavioral foster parents have acquired skills in managing and modifying problematic child behaviors. Behavioral foster care is not an emergency placement or first placement. Upon successful completion of a behavioral foster care program, the child may move to a less structured setting, i.e., foster family care or return to the biological parent. Behavioral foster care should be considered for those children with the following presenting problems:
- Behaviors which if not modified could result in the youth being designated as a status offender;
- History of irresponsible or inappropriate sexual behavior, which has resulted in the need for extraordinary supervision;
- Threatening, intimidating or destructive behavior which is demonstrated by multiple incidents over a period of time;
- Problems of defiance when dealing with authority figures;
- Significant problems at school that affect academic achievement or social adjustment;
- Significant problems with lying, stealing or manipulation;
- Significant problems of temper control;
- Mild substance abuse problems;
- Oppositional behavior which contributes to placement disruptions and inability to function productively with peers, parent figures, birth family, etc.;
- Any of above behaviors, coupled with medical problems; or
- Any of above behaviors displayed by one or more children of a sibling group, qualifying the entire sibling group for placement together, if appropriate. However, not all children would be eligible for the BFC maintenance rate, only those staffed and approved for the program.
Working With the Child with Developmental Delays
Children with developmental delays may, or may not, be appropriate for Behavior Foster Care (BFC). Appropriateness for BFC should be based on evaluation of the clinical and behavioral characteristics surrounding that particular child. Children should not be ruled out for BFC based solely on the singular characteristic of an IQ score falling below 65. Instead, the team should consider a variety of information, including the following:
- Child’s functioning level;
- Severity of developmental delays;
- Ability for self-care;
- Type of behavior problems;
- Level of physical aggressions;
- Age;
- Compliance;
- Need for supervision;
- Strengths; and
- Challenges.
The Department of Mental Health/Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) can be very valuable in providing expertise about and support for these children and their foster parents or caregivers. If a referral for services to MRDD has not been made in these instances, the case manager should do so immediately by contacting the appropriate MRDD Regional Center.
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)
CS03-12, CS03-21, CS03-27, CD04-79, CD05-80, CD06-16, CD06-50