Tips for Caring for a Child with Severe Behavioral Conc...

Here's some tips for you if you are caring for a foster child with severe behavioral concerns⁠

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1) Document everything - keep a written journal to document daily behaviors & triggers. Be sure you quantify how many times a certain behavior occurs. (e.g., child hits 4x a day and has a meltdown 3x a day)⁠

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This also helps with allegation prevention. ⁠

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2) Report major incidences - if there are safety concerns or injuries to the child or others, report this immediately to the SW and therapist.⁠

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This also helps with allegation prevention. The child may also qualify for a specialized rate. ⁠

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3) Request Assessments - request a psychological & developmental assessment. Follow up weekly on the status of the assessment until it happens. ⁠

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After an assessment, the child may be referred for in home behavioral support or other services. ⁠

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A diagnosis may qualify the child for a specialized rate. ⁠

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Lastly, a child's intellectual or developmental disability may be the reason the child is behaving the way they are. Having a diagnosis allows the foster parent to modify their parenting to best suit the child's specific needs. ⁠

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4) Request support - seek out a local support group or respite care - your self care is critical for the support of this child.⁠

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5) Learn & Implement - research and get extra training to best support the child and their needs. Don't be afraid to try new parenting methods! Trial and error is part of the process. ⁠

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Tips for Caring for a Child with Severe Behavioral Concerns