Foster Care

Foster care is a system designed to provide temporary substitute care for children who cannot remain with their families due to abuse, neglect, or other circumstances. In Pennsylvania, the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) oversees foster care and adoption services, working to
ensure safe and stable living arrangements for children in need.

Here’s a more detailed look at foster care:

What it is: Foster care is a state-supervised system that provides 24-hour care for children who are temporarily unable to live with their parents. These children may have experienced abuse, neglect, or other forms of family disruption.

In Pennsylvania:

SWAN:
The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) is a key organization involved in foster care and adoption in Pennsylvania, offering resources and support for both children and caregivers.

Eligibility:
To become a foster parent in Pennsylvania, you must be at least 21 years old, undergo a criminal background check and child abuse clearance, and pass a home approval process.

Support:
Foster parents receive financial support for the child’s expenses, and SWAN provides additional support services and resources.

Becoming a Foster Parent:
You can contact SWAN or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website to learn more about the process of becoming a foster parent.

Length of Placement:
The average length of a foster care placement is around 20 months, though this can vary depending on the child’s circumstances.

Key Aspects of Foster Care:

Trauma:
Children in foster care have often experienced trauma related to abuse, neglect, or separation from their families.

Permanency:
Foster care is intended to be a temporary solution, with the goal of finding a permanent and safe living situation for the child, which may include reunification with their biological family, adoption, or placement with relatives.

Support for Caregivers:
Foster parents play a vital role in providing a safe and nurturing environment for children in need, and they receive support and resources to help them meet the child’s needs.

In Pennsylvania, children in foster care are guaranteed the right to attend their school of origin, meaning the school they were enrolled in before entering foster care, unless it’s deemed not in their best interest. School districts and child welfare agencies are required to collaborate to ensure educational stability for these students.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

School of Origin:
Children in foster care have the right to remain in their “school of origin,” which is the school they last attended before entering foster care or their last placement.

Best Interest Determination:
If a change in placement occurs, an individualized “Best Interest Determination” (BID) process must be followed to determine if remaining in the school of origin is still in the child’s best interest.

Transportation:
School districts and child welfare agencies must collaborate to establish transportation plans to ensure foster children can attend their school of origin.

Enrollment:
School districts must enroll foster children promptly, even if they don’t have all the usual enrollment paperwork, as long as they can provide proof of age, immunization, and residency

Collaboration:
Pennsylvania’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Fostering Connections Act of 2008 emphasize the importance of collaboration between school districts and child welfare agencies to support foster children’s educational stability.

Special Considerations:
Children in foster care residing in residential facilities are also entitled to the same educational rights, including the right to attend their school of origin. A facility’s on-site school should not be the default educational placement.