I have discussed some problems with foster children concerning kinship placement, or family reunification. Now I want to discuss how to protect foster children and how to improve the success of kinship placement or family reunification.

We have to be honest about some parent’s lack of parenting ability. Putting your bleeding toddler back to bed after taking a serious fall because you are sleepy is unthinkable. Did the toddler’s interest lay along with the interest of the mom? She did place a Popsicle on the child’s head and in his mouth. I do not think this is providing first aid. Could this mother really care what happens to her children? Was she putting the children first? Did the grandmother protect the children in the first placement? No, so why did she get them back?

Before we all start calling for kinship and family reunification, we need to look at the possibilities and what is truly best for the children not just what sounds good. What are the family’s relationships with the abusive parents? Can they protect children and not think of the parents? Does the family have some of the same problems as the parents? Does the family fully support the children being removed from the parents and the plan that is in place to protect the children?

These questions must be addressed before placing foster children in kinship placements or family reunifications. The family or friend that the children are being placed with should also have to undergo a background check.

When children are placed in kinship placements there needs to be accountability for the kin providing care for the children. If they go against what the court says, or child welfare states, what should be done in the best interest of the children, then they need to be accountable just as the biological parents should be accountable. If there ever is a doubt that the family will not abide with the rules, then family reunification should not be the avenue that is chosen.

Share your thoughts or ideas on how to ensure that family reunification or kinship placement is in the best interest of the children we are suppose to be protecting.

More reading:

What is the Priorty Children or Drugs?

How to Get Involved with a Kinship Placement?