The current view of foster youth is that they are more likely to be involved in law enforcement. While this may be true, it does not cover the reasons why. County child welfare agencies push foster family and residential agencies to keep foster youth out of trouble with the police and sheriff. This is because the time law enforcement takes with runaways or aggression at home removes them from more serious crimes. And the double-edged sword these agencies have is that they are being asked to take on youths with higher acuity but reduce the behaviors that intersect with law enforcement. Subsequently, the focus on the youth is that they’re the “problem” in this situation.
But it’s more complicated than blaming the child. Here are three reasons why:
1. Youths impacted by trauma respond may respond with violence. Dr. John Bowlby, a British psychiatrist and leading expert on attachment theory, found a strong connection between a youth’s abandonment and separation from family and acts of violence. He said in 1973, “The most violently angry and dysfunctional responses of all, it seems probable, are elicited in children and adolescents who not only experience repeated separations but are constantly subjected to the threat of abandonment.” Foster youths are ten times more likely to be arrested than the total youth population. If foster youths come from homes with violence and a lack of attachment to parents, these children have more risk factors for engaging in violence.
2. The behavior of resource parents impacts the youths. Most foster family agencies report that most of their time is spent handling family crises, many of which involve law enforcement. The resource parents may be overwhelmed, lack the training in crisis management, and feel they’d prefer to let the police handle the problem.
3. The intersection of the foster youth and law enforcement is not always positive. Many foster youths grew up in environments of crime and poverty. In these places, the police may have negatively treated them or family, leading to an adverse view of law enforcement. Consequently, many police have sensitivity and knowledge of foster youths, while others lack the knowledge of their circumstances and see the need to talk as “a waste of time.”
How can a youth who’s experienced trauma and violence, sometimes overlapping with the police, expect a positive understanding and be willing to work with the police?
As a result, rather than simply buckling down on the youth to improve their behavior, a multi-pronged approach needs to occur. Resource parents need training on preventive strategies to reduce the youth’s risk behavior (e.g., runaways, aggressive behavior, or harm to self or others). The youth needs crisis and safety plans that use their strengths to improve self-regulation. Finally, foster family agencies can bridge the communication gap between themselves, the resource parents, law enforcement, and youths. Educating all parties on their roles in their approach to foster youths, a shift in attitude occurs. Police understand the foster youth’s perspective on the youth’s fears and needs. In return, foster youth perceive law enforcement as a source of health and safety instead of punishment.
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PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
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