7.3.2 Meeting/Working with the Child
The Children’s Service Worker should meet face-to-face, individually and jointly, with the child and the placement provider, at the placement, the next business day following placement. The worker must then meet face-to-face, individually and jointly, with the child and the placement provider a minimum of two times per month and no less than seven (7) calendar days apart to monitor the placement and assess the safety of the child. One of the two visits must occur in the placement home. These visits do not include supervised visitation with siblings or other family members which should ideally take place in the parent’s home, in the out-of-home care placement, or other neutral setting. Staff may meet with the child prior to or after a supervised visit but should meet with the child separate from the parent, placement provider and siblings.
To build a trusting relationship during this time, it is important to allow the child to proceed at a rate that is comfortable for him/her in sharing personal reflections and bringing up issues. The Children’s Service Worker shall utilize the Checklist for Worker/Child Visits (form CD-82) to address, as appropriate, the following issues with the child:
- Child's perception of family needs;
- Child's feelings of guilt or blame for events which occurred or caused separation from family;
- Child's loss and grief issues;
- Child's perception of familial and individual strengths;
- Child's desires for future placement;
- Child's adjustment to current placement and school setting;
- Child's participation in and feelings toward treatment and educational services offered;
- How child's perception may differ from actual events.
- Child’s feeling of safety in the placement home; and
- Case goal and progress toward this goal.
With very young and/or non-verbal children, the Children’s Service Worker should use this time to interact with and observe the child to determine if the child is progressing developmentally and receiving appropriate care.