December 2025 Issue 93

Supporting Children During the Holidays

As we enter the holiday season, there is a lot to look forward to. We often associate this time of year with fun traditions, fond memories, and spending time with family. For children in foster care, the holidays may have different associations. No matter how much effort is made to include them in your family’s traditions or make the holidays extra special, the child may still feel sad to be separated from their family. It can help to empathize with what the child may be feeling during a time when so much emphasis is placed on family and togetherness. They may be wondering what their family is doing, if they are okay, if they miss them, etc.

It is also important to bear in mind that, in some cases, this may be the first time the child will receive gifts or get to see Santa. They may feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, or confused about these experiences. Children are often unable to verbalize these complex emotions; instead, it presents in their behavior. You may see an increase in emotional dysregulation, change in sleep or appetite, more defiance or clinginess, emotional distancing, etc., leading up to or following the holiday season.

Here are some strategies that your family can implement to support your foster child during the holidays:

• Learn about what the holidays mean to them. Ask the child about their own traditions and beliefs. Ask about how they usually celebrate the holidays and if they would be comfortable doing any of this with your family or incorporating it with your own traditions.
• Prepare them for what your family does to celebrate the holidays. Talk to them about your traditions and customs, and make sure they know about any religious customs, what they should wear, what you will eat, etc. Describe the home or place where any event will be held and tell them how it usually proceeds. Tell them what to expect with your celebrations; are they loud or quiet, sacred or silly, big or small.
• Facilitate communication and/or visits with the child’s family (if it is safe/appropriate). Children often worry about their family struggling during the holidays, and being able to speak with them or see them may put their mind at ease. Support the child in making or buying a gift for their parents, siblings, or other important family members, if they want to.
• If it is safe and approved by the DCS Specialist, consider extending an invitation to siblings or parents during the holiday. It does not need to be an invitation to your main holiday celebration or to your home; consider a “special dinner” or an extra visit at a park. It will show the child that you respect their wish to remain connected to their family and that they aren’t being put in a position to “choose” one family over the other.
• Prepare your family and friends before visits. They may be curious about the addition to your family, and it’s natural that they would have questions. Think in advance about how to answer some of the questions you may receive while maintaining the child’s confidentiality. It may also help to provide some guidance to your family and friends on any topics to avoid discussing in front of the child.
• Conversely, tell the child about the “characters” in your family that they may meet; share photos or arrange meeting your family in advance, if possible. Know that it may be overwhelming to meet so many new people at once, so if possible, prepare a place for the child to have some quiet time if they need to decompress for a bit.
• Discuss with the child how they would like to be introduced and, if age-appropriate, what they are comfortable sharing about their history. The child has no obligation to reveal their past. Help them set boundaries and consider arranging a private “signal” to use if they feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable.
• Have extra gifts ready to offset an imbalance. While it should not be expected that all relatives purchase presents for the child in your care, children often keep count of the number of gifts received, and they may notice if they have received less than the other children in your family. Extra presents can be “from Santa,” and the child will not feel that they are being treated differently.
• A child in care may be confused or overwhelmed when asked to identify gifts for a wish list. For some, they may not have celebrated Christmas before, or they may be used to getting only “needs” not “wants.” Try not to put so much pressure on them to tell you what they want. Let them know that the desire to give them a gift means that they are loved.
• If your family plans to travel, make sure the child is informed of where you are going, who they will meet, and what to expect. If they will miss visits or other communication with their family, explain what that will look like, such as video chats during the trip or make up visits when you return.

Holiday Travel Guidelines

With several holidays coming up in the next few months, here is a reminder of the DCS Travel Guidelines, per the DCS Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard.

• Bio parent permission is NOT needed for any sort of travel. It is best practice and common courtesy to let them know about travel plans. If they wish to do so, they can file a motion with the court to object to it, but it is not in DCS policy or Arizona law that their permission is needed.

• Bear in mind that you do NOT need DCS Specialist permission for in-state or out-of-state travel of less than 7 days. You simply need to inform them of the plan and how you can be contacted. 24-48 hours should be sufficient notice. NOTE: If there are court-ordered services, such as parenting time, that will be affected by this travel, you WILL need DCS Specialist permission.

• The DCS Specialist can deny out-of-state travel of more than 7 days, however the only major considerations should be if the child has medical needs (i.e. they need regular medical treatments that they would not be able to get while out of state) or if there is court-ordered parenting time (not the standard parenting time that DCS is required to provide, as those sessions can be made up. In this case, court-ordered means that DCS has been specifically ordered by the court to ensure that the child is at the session). There may be other issues at play, but they should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

• If you wish to travel out of the country with the child (including cruises where the child does not leave the ship), you will need permission of the court and a passport for the child. First, notify the DCS Specialist as soon as you know the dates and destination. They will file a Motion for Out of Country Travel, which is what will grant you permission to take the child. They will also file a Motion to Apply for a Passport. It must have the caregiver's name listed as the person who will be granted permission to apply for the passport, otherwise it defaults to DCS. This motion should be filed at least 30 days ahead of travel, however the more lead time, the less stress it will be, so inform the Specialist as soon as you know the dates/destination. In addition to this court order, you will need a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which the DCS Specialist can request, if it is not already in the file. You can also request a certified copy by taking the Notice to Provider to Vital Records, however you will have to pay the fee for the birth certificate, which is not reimbursable. You will need to take original, certified copies of both the order and the birth certificate to the passport office. The child must have either a passport or passport card, depending on your method of travel. This is a US Department of Homeland Security requirement, confirmed as of 10/1/25. Be sure to save your receipt and request passport reimbursement through the DCS Specialist. NOTE: DCS will not reimburse for an expedited passport fee, so please allow enough time to complete all tasks in a timely manner. According to the US Department of State website, the current processing time is 7-10 weeks. You should also purchase travel medical insurance for the child, as their Mercy Care DCS CHP coverage is not valid outside of the United States. Although it is not required, it is preferred. Again, this a non-reimbursable expense. Please do not risk traveling out of the country without ALL of these items completed. It is not a quick or convenient process, however it is what is required for the safety and well-being of the child in your care.

• If you experience challenges with the RPPS Guidelines, attempt to elevate the issue through the DCS Program Supervisor then the DCS Program Manager. Contact information is in Guardian under your Service Approvals. If you need assistance with locating contact information or facilitating communication, reach out to Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk. You can also follow the DCS Complaint Management Policy in Chapter 7: Section 17.

Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard

SSN Requests

Tax season is coming up quicker than any of us want it to, so start preparing now! Ask the assigned DCS Specialist for the social security numbers of the children in your care to ensure that you have the information before taxes are due!

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: If requested for a lawful purpose, the Department shall provide a foster parent or kinship caregiver with the social security number of a child in the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s care within 90 days of the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s request (verbal or written).

If a child does not currently have a SSN assigned, the request to have one assigned by the Social Security Administration can take around 60 days. However, if the child also does not have a birth certificate, that will need to be requested and received before the SSN request can be submitted. An in-state birth certificate should only take about 30 days to process and receive, unless the child was not born in a hospital or is a foundling. That process can take much longer, depending on the information that is available. The timeframe for out-of-state birth certificate requests varies by state and can take several months.

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: Within 30 days of the child entering out-of-home care, the Department shall request a birth certificate for a child who is in the custody of the Department and in out-of-home care, unless the child is returned to the custody of the child’s parent within that 30-day period.

If you have requested the social security number and have not received it within 60 days of the initial request, please follow up with the DCS Specialist. If the process is not moving along as it should and you feel the need to elevate the issue, please follow the Complaint Management Procedure as outlined in DCS Policy Chapter 7: Section 17: Complaints should be resolved among those most familiar with the situation and who have the ability to resolve the complaint. Case-related complaints should be first addressed with the DCS Specialist and may be elevated to the DCS Specialist's Supervisor if not satisfactorily resolved. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the DCS Program Supervisor, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Program Manager. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the Program Manager, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Office of the Ombudsman through the Online complaint form (www.azdcs.gov), by telephone (602-364-0777 or toll-free at 877-527-0765), or by email Ombudsman@azdcs.gov.

If you need the contact information for the DCS Specialist or Supervisor, it is listed in Guardian under your Service Approvals. Warmline can also assist in providing the information or facilitating communication: 877-543-7633 option 3 or warmline@azdcs.gov.

Post-Permanency Supports Orientation

High-Five

If you want to recognize a foster family, a licensing worker or agency, DCS Specialist/Supervisor or other employee, community partner, attorney, CASA, judge, mentor, or other fostering community member, please fill out the High-Five Nomination Form linked below.

Prescott-Area Foster Families: FREE Monthly Events

Sponsored by The League of Extraordinary Grandparents, volunteer grandparents will guide children in making crafts, painting, storytelling, games and more!

• WHO CAN ATTEND: Children in foster care, ages 4 – 10. Bio siblings may also attend, as long as they are between ages 4 – 10. All children must be registered in advance.
• WHEN: Every 3rd Saturday of the month in 2025 – December 20.
• LOCATION: Prescott Valley (details will be provided upon registration)
• TIME: 9 AM – 12 PM
• SNACKS: Snacks and drinks are provided.

ASA Now

ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.

Warmline Supports Kinship and Foster Families

The Foster Parent Warmline is available for kinship families and licensed foster parents. While not an emergency number, Warmline staff can assist with information, timely communication, and support. It is not intended to discourage or replace direct and regular communication between the DCS Specialist and the out-of-home caregiver. You can reach the Warmline by calling 1-877-KIDSNEEDU (1-877-543-7633). Please be prepared with your name, the child's name, DOB, and dates of placement/departure, as well as an explanation of the issue. The Warmline is manned by staff Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (AZ time), excluding state holidays. You may also send an email to Warmline@azdcs.gov and include the above information.

Children's Heart Gallery

More than 70 percent of the children in need of forever families are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. For the remainder, special recruitment efforts like the Heart Gallery are used to connect them with a forever family.

The children featured in the Heart Gallery represent all ethnic groups and range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.

Amelia