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6.12 Support to Birth Parents

Birth parents need support in a variety of ways as they work toward reunification. As with caregivers, caseworkers can provide support in the following way:

• Inquire routinely if the birth parent needs additional support or assistance with carrying out their comprehensive family service plan. Provide prompt referrals for services.
• Provide advocacy and mediation services for birth parents when needed.
• Engage birth parents around the development of the Child and Parent Team and obtain their input in planning and decision-making.
• Plan with the birth parents for how to respond to crises, including whom to contact and how, and what the caseworker and birth parent will do. Provide referrals as appropriate. Please see Chapter 5, Intact Families, Appendix D for more information on crisis planning.
• Negotiate a plan for communication (calls, visits, documentation) between the caseworker and birth parents. Workers should return all telephone calls to birth parents within 24 hours.
• Ensure that all required forms and paperwork are completed in a timely manner and promptly resolve any problems.
• Recognize, assess and address any indication of unusual stress or problems within the birth parents' home as it affects their ability to engage in their comprehensive family service plan. Proactive intervention will go a long way toward enabling the birth parents to keep focused on their goal: reuniting with their children.
• Acknowledge and address separation and loss issues experienced by the birth parent with regard to the removal of their child(ren).
• Provide reimbursement (as appropriate) to birth parents for transportation costs, day care or other expenses incurred as a result of parent-child visitation or engaging in necessary services. The agency may be able to provide bus tokens or train passes.
• Always treat birth parents with empathy, respect and genuineness. Identify and recognize parental strengths.

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