Foster Family Assessment/Intervention Guide
The assessment factors for the child are described on the BIOLOGIC FAMILY ASSESSMENT/INTERVENTION GUIDE. Please refer to that Guide for specific information on assessment of the prenatally substance-exposed infant. |
| |
Factor |
(a) Low
Risk |
(b) Intermediate
Risk |
(c) High
Risk |
F
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R
P
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T |
1. Experience with Special-Needs Children |
Prior caregiving experience and training with drug-exposed infants |
Prior caregiving experience but no training, or training but no experience with drug-exposed infants |
New foster parent; no training or experience with drug-exposed infants |
2. Level of Cooperation/
Receptivity to Services |
Willing to work with agency, follow case plan, and provide for child's special medical and physical needs |
Overtly compliant but cooperates only minimally with agency case plan |
Unwilling to follow through with agency case plan, does not recognize need for recommended services; resistant to home visits |
3. Perception/
Expectation of Infant |
Realistic recognition & understanding of infant's vulnerabilities and difficult behaviors, as well as of infant's positive qualities and attributes |
Realistic recognition and understanding of infant's vulnerabilities and difficult behaviors, but inability to see infant's positive qualities and attributes |
Denial of infant's special needs so that his/her capabilities are not maximized; personalization of infant's symptomology |
| 4. Parenting Skills |
Appropriate parenting skills and knowledge regarding special follow-up care; responsiveness to infant's needs |
Provides appropriate physical care, but is unresponsive to infant's needs (no response to crying, poor eye contact, inappropriate acceptance or criticism of child) |
May or may not provide appropriate physical care, and is unresponsive to infant's needs (no response to crying, poor eye contact, no visits, inappropriate acceptance or criticism of child) |
| 5. Attitudes toward Biological Parent(s) |
Supportive regarding parent/child relationship and able to set limits; acknowledges parent's problem |
|
Creates unnecessary physical obstacles and emotional barriers which interfere with parent/child relationship; is unable to set limits with parent, denies parent's problems |
6. Physical/
Intellectual/
Emotional Functioning |
No intellectual/
physical/
emotional limitations |
Physical/
emotional/
intellectual limitations which would not significantly impact ability to care for infant |
Physical/
emotional/
intellectual limitations which would negatively impact ability to care for infant |
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7. Access to Resources |
Own transportation; own telephone; ability to access appropriate services for child; home accessible by public transportation |
|
Limited access to transportation and/or phone; required services for infant not available |
| 8. Home and Family Supports |
Supportive family members and/or significant others available; committed to help foster parent |
Supportive family members and/or significant others, but not available to help foster parent |
No help or support from family members and/or significant others; isolated |
| 9. Foster Parent's Living Environment |
Home relatively clean w/no apparent safety or health hazards; utilities operable; evidence of preparation for infant's arrival (clothing, furnishings, formula) |
Home relatively clean w/no apparent safety or health hazards; no evidence or preparation for infant's arrival |
Home unclean w/safety or health hazards, no evidence of preparation for infant's arrival |
