December 2024 Issue 81

How to Support 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.
  • Try not to take it personally if the child pulls away, acts out, or has other behavioral changes. Be empathetic and open to listening if the child wants to talk. Give them space and support during this time. Listen to what they need and provide it if it is within your power to do so.

For additional ideas, support, or resources, please reach out to your licensing worker or kinship support specialist.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3, 2024 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It was created in 1992 by the United Nations with the aim to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life. Persons with disabilities are one of the most excluded groups in our global society and are less likely to access health care, education, employment, and to participate in the community.

Foster caregivers often have firsthand experience working with children with disabilities, both visible and not visible. The Division of Developmental Disabilities offers guidance and support to families and individuals diagnosed with one of the following developmental disabilities:

  • Autism;
  • Cerebral palsy;
  • Epilepsy;
  • Cognitive / Intellectual Disability;
  • Down Syndrome; or
  • Are under the age of six and at risk of having a Developmental Disability

In order to qualify for DDD services, the child must have an official diagnosis from a professional trained in early childhood development, such as an AzEIP (Arizona Early Intervention Program) specialist (under age 3), licensed physician, school psychologist, early childhood education specialist, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, licensed psychologist, pediatrician, or child neurologist (age 3-6). The diagnostic requirements vary after age 6. Please consult the DDD website for eligibility criteria.

Either the legal or physical guardian of the child can complete the application for DDD enrollment, so if a child in your care receives a qualifying diagnosis, the caregiver can complete it or reach out to the assigned Specialist right away to get the application started. If the child is approved for DDD, it may change the foster care reimbursement rate, depending on the type and frequency of services/treatment that the child participates in. Your licensing worker should be able to help you navigate this process, including how to modify your license to a Child Developmental Home (CDH), if necessary.

Be aware that DDD does not provide services to the child (other than case management with regular check-ins), unless they qualify for ALTCS, Arizona Long Term Care System. ALTCS provides long term care services to financially and medically eligible Arizona residents who are aged, blind, disabled, or have a developmental disability (must impact them in several functional areas). Children in DCS custody are provided health insurance, which does cover necessary medical, behavioral, and developmental services. However, ALTCS may cover services with providers outside of the CHP network, and the benefit continues into adulthood, whereas CHP does not. So if a child in your care qualifies for DDD, it would be wise to apply for ALTCS.

DDD and/or ALTCS can be a long, confusing, and challenging process. Raising Special Kids is an organization that exists to improve the lives of children from birth to age 26 who have any type of disability or special healthcare need. They provide support, training, information, and individual assistance to Arizona families to help them become effective advocates for their children.

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/visitation, 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 visitation (not the standard visitation that DCS is required to provide, as those visits 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 visitation.). 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 10/16/24. 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 4-6 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.

Reminder: Social Security Number Requests

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

FAS/KSS Provider & Foster/Kinship Caregiver High Five Nomination Form

OLR Supports is focused on the fostering community in the areas of recruitment, retention, and recognition. We believe that it is important to promote an engaged and inspired fostering culture.

We appreciate the fostering community’s dedication to the children and families that are in DCS care, and we want to hear all of the good works so that we can give recognition and thanks for the impact you have on this community every day.

Please complete an FAS/KSS Provider & Foster/Kinship Caregiver High Five Nomination Form when 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.

Free Virtual Reading Program

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. 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.

Miricle, Loammi, and Deshon

Miricle, Loammi, and Deshon are a fantastic trio! Like all siblings, they do not always get along, but they are one another's best playmates. Miricle is a very smart girl who enjoys school and playing with her LOL or Monster High dolls. Loammi and Deshon are twins but are so very different! Loammi is a sweet and talkative girl who is always up for trying new things! Deshon has a lot of energy and loves putting that into sports or other outdoor activities. While they all enjoy watching television and playing video games, they prefer spending time outdoors and staying active.

Miricle was born in 2013. Loammi and Deshon were born in 2014.

Sean C.

Sean is an energetic, sweet, and mild-mannered young man who enjoys anime (particularly manga), reading, and dogs. His ideal day would be walking the dogs and playing games with his family and friends. Sean can be very loving and seeks guidance and positive affirmations from adults and peers alike.

Sean was born in 2011.

Santhia

Santhia is a creative and outgoing young woman! She loves to journal how she is feeling and includes art in her journals to express her thoughts ever further. Santhia loves seafood! Her favorite food is sushi, especially the crunchy crab roll. She enjoys listening to music, particularly Juice WRLD and Lil Peep. Santhia used to box and would love to start that again.

Santhia was born in 2009.

AZ Families Thrive is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Child Safety to inform foster, kinship, and adoptive families across the state. Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk created this edition. Please feel free to email with questions, comments, or content you may be interested in seeing in future editions. Sign up to receive email updates when new issues are posted.

Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent? Call us: 1-877-KIDS-NEEDU (1-877-543-7633) or email us: FosterAdoption@azdcs.gov. Visit us online: www.azkidsneedu.gov.

To report child abuse or neglect: 1-888-SOS-CHILD