1 education keep the foster children in their “school of origin”
TRANSCRIPT
1
Education Keep the Foster Children in their
“School of Origin”
2
When ... we remove any Child from his/her parent’s home, we ALREADY KNOW that we
MUST give preference to
1. Placing the Child with either the non-custodial parent or a relative. 2. Placing siblings together.
3
During the placement decision process, we also need to consider,
whenever possible, keeping the Child in his/her
School of Origin.
4
The school which the Child attends is an
important decision component in the search for a placement.
5
Why?
?
?
?
?
?? ?
6
Because ...Students who switch schools frequently ...score lower on standardized tests.
Studies show that they scored 20 points lower than students who had not changed schools!
7
Children take 4-6 months to recoveracademically
after changing schools.
??
What’s going on?
8
And ...Moves during high school
greatly diminish the likelihood of the Youth achieving graduation.
9
To minimize these challenges for our Children and to enable our Social
Workers to maintain school consistency, California enacted ...
AB 490
10
A PowerPointis available on LAKids
to further explain how to AB 490
benefits foster children
11
… So … What do CSW’s
need to do?
12
Ask Parents ...•What school their Child attends
•What school programs the Child was enrolled in
•What school they want their Child to attend
Then ... --* Document in CWS/CMS(…so it will populate into the
Health & Education Passport.)
* Document in the court report
13
Talk to the Child ... - About his/her school & concerns
- His/her interests, relationships with teachers & school friends
- Ask if he/she wants to continue in the school of
origin
Then ... --* Document in CWS/CMS Contacts
* Document in the court report
14
If at all possible,
Find a placement within the Child’s
current school community.
… PLEASE ...
15
BUT … if the Child truly can’t stay in his/her
School of Origin & must transfer,
document the reasons in CWS/CMS
& in the court report.
The Child can be
IMMEDIATELY enrolled
in the new school!
16
Then ...Contact the Child’s New School District &
ask for the Local Educational Agency Liaison * The LEA Liaisons can ...
- Ensure that students enroll in school
- Ensure that a Foster Child is identified for services
- Assist in the transfer of school records
- Resolve enrollment and educational service disputes
17
- Remember -Foster Children are well served if they stay
in their schools of origin.