© 2000 Jordan Institute
for Families

Ways to Support Foster Parents Around Visitation

Make the importance of foster parents' role in visits clear by keeping them abreast of any changes and having an ongoing discussion about visiting Facilitate pre-placement visits between the foster child and family whenever possible Tell foster families what kinds of behaviors they can realistically expect to see on the part of birth parents and children before, during, and after a visit Involve foster parents in meetings with the biological family and providers Ensure foster families receive ongoing education, particularly about the reasons for and effects of visitation Facilitate peer support by connecting foster families to each other, particularly through local and state foster parent associations Discuss with foster families how they will handle any visit-related problems, and make sure they know you are open and available to discuss any issues or concerns they have Avoid overcomplicating visitation for foster families by placing too many children from different families or too many special needs children in one home Involve foster families in the planning of the visit schedule; always keep the family's schedule and needs in mind when planning visit times and locations Encourage and appreciate foster parents for their efforts to support visitation and to work with birth parents