|
Out-of-Home
Placement for Children with Special Needs
Placing a child out
of the home on a temporary
or permanent basis is usually a last resort. Families make this
decision
when:
- They believe
that
their child’s health or
educational needs cannot be adequately met in their home or community,
because of the severity of the disability and/or limited
family/educational
support or
- When the
challenge
of meeting the child’s
daily needs has overwhelmed the family, and they aren’t sure that they
can continue to provide the day-to-day care or
- When family
conflict
or problems (i.e. divorce/addiction/domestic
violence/death/job loss) make it impossible for a family to give a
child
adequate care and protection.
Families often wait too
long before asking
for help. By the time they do, they may be desperate and demand
an
out-of-home placement. It is important to know that options exist
and to get support as soon as possible. Even small children can
have
needs or develop problems that can overwhelm a family.
Considering an
out-of-home placement is
a serious decision that families should not make alone. Options
depend
on what services are available, financial resources, and state laws and
policies that apply. Some options have included:
- Temporary foster
care
- A residential
school
or group home
- Psychiatric
hospitalization
- Adoption
Families facing these
issues should seek support
by calling their regional Human
Service Center.
If a child has a serious
emotional disturbance
they may be eligible for:
PATH
Program - In-home support and respite care to eligible children
with
emotional/behavioral needs.
ND
Federation
of Families - Family support for parents of students with
emotional/behavioral
needs.
Partnerships
Program - Wrap-around services to families of children
with emotional/behavioral conditions. For more information, call
1-701-328-2335.
Families may also
seek support from a pastor
or counselor at this time, or may want to be connected with
another
family who has a child placed out of the home through the ND
Family to Family Network.
|
