Lecture and Discussion- Participants are encouraged to make the workshop more relevant to their concerns by asking questions.
DESCRIPTION:
Focus is on creating practical understanding of the biological child's and family's emotional and psychological needs when a foster child is introduced to into the family system. Theories of diagnosis, family systems, cognitive development, and moral development are combined to create understanding and to lead to practical strategies resolving the potential disruptions of becoming a foster family.
SUMMARY OF CONTENT:
1) Understanding the Behavior of Children -
Both Foster and Biological Children
A Diagnostic Order for Evaluating Behavior
Social Referencing
2) Introducing the Foster Child into the Biological Family Systems: Effects
Family Systems Theory
Characteristics of Functional & Dysfunctional Family Systems
3) Rescuing the Family System - Becoming the Identified Patient
Scapegoating or Sacrificing the Child
Rescuing the System- Self-Sacrifice by a Child
The Foster Child as the Old Identified Patient and as the New Identified Patient
4) Effects on Individual Members in the Family System: The Parents
5) Effects on Individual Members in the Family System: The Children
Family System Disruption for the Children
Differential Developmental Effects on Children of Foster Siblings
6) Moral Commitment by Developmentally Different Children to Foster Care