Check in frequently on first placements

About this recommendation

No matter how many hours of training they've had, it's a different experience once a child is placed in your home. This is particularly the case for kinship caregivers who may have had no notice their life was about to change. A little extra support during this transition period can go a long way towards making a placement successful and retaining foster homes for the long term.

How to do this

• Update your practices to include regular check-ins with resource families after they take their first placement. The specific person who should check in may vary by agency, but it should be a consistent person. Kinship caregivers should also get these calls. Milestones might include the first night, right before any key meetings, the first day a child attends school (if different from the first day of placement), and at least once a week for the first month.
• Ask open-ended questions. How's it going? Do they need anything? Do they have any questions? This is a great opportunity to identify any additional supports that may be needed and get them in place proactively.

Anticipated costs and benefits

Who's doing this

1 of 54 states and territories have implemented this recommendation.

• Frederick County, MD checks in frequently with new resource families after taking their first placement. They also join new families in many of their new experiences, such as agency meetings and court hearings, to help them get comfortable and familiar with the process.