The Foster Parenting Toolbox: A Practical, Hands-On Approah to Parenting Children in Foster Care - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0972624465 ISBN 13: 9780972624466

Publisher: Emk Pr, 2012

Synopsis

Finally, a comprehensive parenting book for foster families!
What do you need to meet the needs of the children in your care? Each child will be unique and require a different set of tools in your toolbox. The Foster Parenting Toolbox is 464 pages of incredibly helpful information. Over 100 foster parents in the trenches, case workers, social workers, CASAs, GALs and judges contributed to this book to help all those on the child's team understand and work better with the children who are entrusted to their care.

Covering topics from newborns to teens and everything in between, this book will help not only foster parents, but be beneficial to those who work with foster parents: case workers, social workers, judges, CASA's, GAL s and others.

There are many ways agencies and those who work with foster children are using this book including:

- Showcasing it at a Heart Gallery as a resource for foster/adopt families

- Using it in support groups for post adoption education

- Having CASA workers read it to understand the perspectives of all the people on the child's team

- Sharing it family to family as there are no other parenting books like this just for foster parents

- Reminding themselves why they chose to work in this field

Over 100 professionals contributed to this project
Edited by Kim Phagan-Hansel, the editor of Fostering Families Today Magazine, more than 100 contributors have helped weave a stunning tapestry of advice specifically for foster parents and the professionals and case workers who are on their foster child's team. This 464-page book is an extension of the trainings offered by individual states. It s a top of the nightstand resource that offers today s foster parents access to a wealth of useful information from professionals in the field and successful foster parents in the trenches. One of the most important features is the voice of foster youth, woven throughout the book. That presence is a constant reminder of why each of us is committed to doing what is called the toughest job you will ever love. This is a book you won t read all at once, but come back to again and again.

Chapters include
- Why Foster
- Perspectives
- Transitions
- Teamwork
- Birth Family Connections
- Loss, Grief, and Anger
- Attachment and Trust
- Trauma and Abuse
- Family Impact
- Discipline
- School Tools
- Parenting Teens
- Nurturing Identity
- Allegations
- Respite and Support
- Reunification, Adoption, and Beyond
- Resources, Recommended Readings and Index

It's an indispensable resource that no foster family, case worker, judge, CASA or GAL should be without.

CEU quizzes are available for each chapter and are included in the back of the book. Check with your agency for compliance.

About this title

About the Author

Kim Phagan-Hansel is the editor of Fostering Families Today and Adoption Today magazines, as well as freelance writer for several other publications. She earned a bachelor's degree in English-Journalism from Chadron State College and has worked in the publishing industry for 13 years. She is also a wife and mother.

Review

The Foster Parenting Toolbox is sure to be a helpful resource to you; no matter what role you play in a foster child's life. Children in foster care have many people involved with them. Having someone who truly understands where they are coming from is golden. As someone who experienced foster care, I believe that this resource is important, especially for a foster parent, a case worker or a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer who will have that first encounter with a foster child. A book with real stories and perspectives is a vital tool for new parents and social workers, but can also be reassuring for an exhausted parent who needs a new outlook on things. --Nicole Dobbins, Excutive Director of Voice for Adoption and Former Foster Youths.

It is hard to imagine a resource more informative than The Foster Parenting Toolbox. It is chock full of vital information for foster parents, caseworkers and any one who is involved with child welfare. It is truly a national effort with the perspectives of foster parents and other experts from across the United States. --Sarah Gerstenzang, Executive Director NYSCCC (New York State Child Care Coordinating Council)

The Foster Parenting Toolbox is a wonderful, comprehensive, much needed resource that I found very helpful even though I have been a foster parent for twenty years. The book covered topics I have never thought of. I especially liked the personal stories/viewpoints. And added to that, the papers from the professionals were very accessible and applicable. Thanks so much for making a book to help those of us in the trenches do the very best job we can with the children who come to us. --Veronica Brown, Current foster parent to three teenaged boys

Edition details

• Publisher: Emk Pr
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0972624465
• ISBN 13: 9780972624466
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 446
• Editor: Kim Phagan-Hansel