Partners with Birth Parents for Reunification
The aim of shared parenting is to promote ongoing, positive interactions
between birth parents and foster parents so that birth parents can be active
members of the alliance focused on the welfare of their child. A foster parent in
NC says, “As a foster parent, my job is both to advocate for the child and to help
birth parents change and be reunited with their children."
Shared Family Care
According to the Child Welfare Gateway in some shared family care programs, the parent(s) and child(ren) are placed together in the home of a host family who is trained to mentor and support the parents as they develop the skills and supports necessary to care for their children independently. This type of program can be used to prevent out-of-home placement, to provide a safe environment for the reunification of a family that has been separated, or to help the parent(s) consider other permanency options, including relinquishment of parental rights.
The Child Welfare Gateway is a service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/supporting/support-services/familycare/
Better Together with Birth Parents Workshops
Fostering equally and mutually respectful partnerships between birth parents, foster parents, child welfare agency staff and community agencies. For more information email: Geraldo Pilarski, DCYF Parent Partner Program Administrator. Click here for the DCYF 2018 workshop schedule.
Additional Resources
- Partnerships with Birth Parents- List of resources from Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition
- Strong Families: Center for Social Policy's Strengthening Families- A Protective Factors Framework
- Building Bridges Between Birth Parents, Foster Parents
- Quality Parenting Initiative
- Where I Come From Doesn't Determine Where I'll Go
- Resource Families Supporting Reunification
- Icebreaker Meetings, A Tool for Building Relationships Between Birth and Foster Parents
- Birth Parents with Trauma Histories and the Child Welfare System A Guide for Resource Parents
- Shared Parenting: Putting the Needs of Children First
- Biological Parents Need Our Love Too
- Things That Are Important for the Care Provider to Communicate to the Birth Parents
- Shared Family Care: Child Protection and Family Preservation
- Co-Parenting, The Key to Reunification
- Building a Positive Relationship with Birth Parents
- Parent Engagement/Mentoring Models in Washington State
- Safe Families for Children: Host Family Handbook
- Shared Family Care in Contra Cost County: An Opportunity for Change
- Foster Parents and Birth Parents Working as a Team
- The Power of Shared Parenting
- Moving Children Between Families – Impacts and Ways to Help
- The Impact of Trauma on Parenting
- AFFCNY Foster Parents Speak: Crossing Bridges and Fostering Change Discussion/Resource Guide
- Shared Parenting Can Reduce Disruptive Behaviors
- Resource Parents Partnering with Birth Parents to Benefit Children
- Addressing Multi-Generational Dysfunction in Foster Care
- Resources for Holding Icebreaker Meetings Between Birth and Foster Parents
