Policies on Supporting Relationships between Birth & Foster Families

Supporting Relationships between Birth & Foster Families graphic

North Carolina Shared Parenting Policy

North Carolina began practicing shared parenting in 2005. The Division of Social Services adopted a formal policy in 2008, which was revised in 2015. The policy covers the purpose and strengths of shared parenting, preparation for the initial shared parenting meeting, safety, confidentiality, role of the social worker and post-permanency. Policy now mandates that every county and private agency implement shared parenting as part of every foster care case. Shared parenting is taught to every prospective foster and adoptive parent by a team consisting of an experienced foster parent and a “MAPP leader,” a county or private agency licensing worker trained by one of three master trainers.

More details in the playbook here.

Vermont Family Time Policy

The Vermont Department of Children and Family Services policy on Family Time supports the use of Family Time Coaching as the primary method of maintaining, strengthening or developing relationships between children and their parents when it is necessary to build parental capacity to meet children’s needs. When this is not the case, the social worker and the supervisor will explore the appropriateness of supporting family time without a Family Time Coach or a monitor. Consideration will be given to the extended family, friends, community supports helping to support familytime. It is also important for parents to continue to be involved with medical and dental appointments as well as attending school meetings or events when this can be done safely.

See the policy for more details.