Many Foster Parents and Adoptive Parents alike may face the issue of out of home placement. Any child at anytime can go through tremendous changes. Some of which they can control and some that they can not control.

With the fragility of our children at hand. Sometimes a therapist might suggest out of home placement. For the child to be evaluated for medications or for the child to receive more quality care than can be offered by out patient treatment.

It is a very difficult decision as a parent to make.
You want to do what is best for the child. But if the child has already been in and out of placements.
You tend to wonder if this part of treatment is a good or bad thing.

As a parent you will want to do some investigation of the place where the child will be placed.

1). What is the facility like. Go and tour it.
2). Meet the doctors and therapists.
3). Ask about treatment programs and therapy.
4). Ask if visitation is open from day one.
5). Ask if the child can call home if need be.
6). Ask how long this placement will last.
7). Ask if you can discontinue placement if you
feel that the child is not benefiting or
responding well to therapy.

If your child does need out of home placement. Make sure that you and your family members can participate in visitation and therapy with your child while they are away.

It is important that your child knows that this is temporary and that if they correct a behavior or participate in treatment. They will be back home very soon.

Always talk to the doctors before you ever confirm
anything with your child. You do not want them to have false hopes and to feel abandoned.

Anyone out there have good examples of out of home placement? Your comments are always welcomed.