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7.22 Parental Ambivalence After Reunification

Just as parents may express ambivalence about caring for a child while the child is in placement, parental ambivalence may be demonstrated after the child is home.

Examples of parental ambivalence after the child returns home include:

· Lack of investment in the child's daily care by failure to attend school staffings, not taking the child for medical appointments, lack of interest in the child's activities, etc.;

· Frequent or inappropriate use of respite or child care;

· Expression of a desire to place the child back into foster care;

· Verbal abuse of the child, name calling or referring to the child in negative terms;

· Repeatedly calling the police, caseworker or service provider to have the child removed but when help arrives, the parent reconsiders and gives the child "one more chance."

Indications of parental ambivalence should be brought to the attention of the parents and the Child and Family Team so that the parents' feelings may be discussed and parents can be helped to resolve the ambivalence.