Credit hours:
2.00

Course Summary

The removal of children and youth from their caregiver(s) to whom they are attached can have both positive and negative aspects. From a child protection perspective, separation can have benefits, the most obvious being immediate safety. Separating a parent and child can also have profoundly negative effects. Even when it is necessary, research indicates that removing children and youth from their homes interferes with their development. The more traumatic the separation, the more likely there will be significant negative developmental consequences. It is imperative that foster parents and other child welfare stakeholders be informed about how separation and loss impacts the children and youth they care for and how to help minimize the impact.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

  • What separation and loss may look like for a child or youth when losing their caregiver, siblings or other close relatives

  • Challenges children and youth may face when suffering from a traumatic separation, both generally and developmentally

  • How an adult supporter may be able to help a child or youth experiencing separation and loss

  • Strategies and tools available to assist and help children and youth develop coping skills

Step 1

Review the following article,  "Children with Traumatic Separation: Information for Professionals," an issue developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which provides information and guidance to young people who experience traumatic separation from a caregiver, siblings or other close relatives.

Step 2

Review the following article, "Effects of Separation and Loss on Children's Development," by Susan Hois, to gain insight on the psychological impact of losing parents due to divorce, incarceration, death and/or removal to foster care at various stages of development.

Step 3

Review the excerpt "My Stuff" on page 7 of FosterClub's Quick Start Guide, for teens entering foster care. Often, what is unknown is the scariest part of foster care. Providing young people with a method of control helps eliminate unknown factors and make them feel more comfortable in their current situation.

Step 4

Review the information provided in "Keeping Connected to Siblings," excerpted from FosterClub's Quick Start Guide, which outlines important things for a young person to consider when thinking about bio-family connections. Relationships with family can be tough for any teen, but when foster care is involved, things can get even more complicated. Helping a young person understand the details and their rights concerning visits or connections to loved ones may help ease the fear and anxiety that separation often creates. 

Step 5

Review the following worksheet developed by FosterClub to help children gain a better understanding of what separation from their family members looks like and ideas about how to keep in touch with important people, excerpted from FosterClub's Foster Cub Coloring Book. Having a conversation with the younger youth in your care may prove to be a little more complicated than a conversation with a teen.

Step 6

Review the following worksheet, "What will we do on a visit?" An excerpt from FosterClub's Foster Cub Coloring Book. Easing the uncertainty for children in your care when it comes to visits with biological family is important. Beyond initial greetings, family visits can become awkward for the child and visitor alike. Plan ahead with the child about things they can do at their visit, and help pack a bag with items that promote interactivity and connection.

Step 7

Review the worksheet below, "What will my family be doing in foster care?" Often the anxiety that evolves from separation is the lack of knowledge regarding what the rest of the young person's family will be doing in foster care. Help begin a conversation about what family members may be up to during the young person's absence from the home. This could also be used during visitation with family members. Excerpted from FosterClub's Foster Cub Coloring Book.

Step 8

Join the discussion in the comments below to answer the following question:

How can you help minimize the impact of separation on a child or youth in your home when visits and/or communications with their birth family is not an option?

Step 9

Finished the module? If you are logged in as a subscribed user, take the quiz to earn your Continuing Education Credit hours and certificate! 

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Course Discussion

Magnum's picture
5 years 10 months ago

Magnum replied:

we have a 14 month old the parents right have been terminated so i cant say how i would do this
melinda1510's picture
5 years 11 months ago

melinda1510 said:

We have 4 teenage boys. I have found that it helps them to be able to talk about what is going on should it be while I am cooking or we do chores together and alot of times the neighborhood kids that they are friends with will all come sit on the porch and we have a group meeting if the boys want to.
brett2634's picture
5 years 12 months ago

brett2634 said:

I think helping them understand what is going on (in age appropriate terms) is maybe the most important thing. Everything is so uncertain and out of their control, I think it helps if they are told what is going on, who all of these new people in their lives are, and what their parents are doing right now.
Tracykrd's picture
6 years 4 days ago

Tracykrd said:

I have started keeping the life book for when my son asks questions about his birth family. This way I have pictures to show him and he knows where he came from.
breadman65's picture
6 years 6 days ago

breadman65 said:

i find that involving them in family projects, opens up the lines of communication, for they feel they are not just a visitor
VMagill127's picture
6 years 1 week ago

VMagill127 said:

Some ways that I would try to do this is to always keep communication open about the birth family, and always discuss them with respect and honesty with the kids. Depending on the age of the children, I would also say coloring pictures, writing letters, taking photos, making picture albums are all great ideas and can be shared when/if communication is opened, and the child is willing to do so.
rwnugent's picture
6 years 1 week ago

rwnugent said:

It would be beneficial to arrange social activities with other children of similar age. Help them engage with classmates in social activities.
rwnugent's picture
6 years 1 week ago

rwnugent said:

It would be beneficial to arrange social activities with other children of similar age. Help them engage with classmates in social activities.
melinda1510's picture
6 years 1 week ago

melinda1510 said:

The biggest thing I do is....We have 4 foster boys (10-16). We all come together, should it be while I am cooking supper or eating supper, and I let each one talked about their families. I feel it gives each one more comfort and less embarrassment for them to see they all have a story about their families. It seems to help them all connect more and reduce the anxiety for the ones that do not see any family.
melinda1510's picture
6 years 1 week ago

melinda1510 said:

The biggest thing I do is....We have 4 foster boys (10-16). We all come together, should it be while I am cooking supper or eating supper, and I let each one talked about their families. I feel it gives each one more comfort and less embarrassment for them to see they all have a story about their families. It seems to help them all connect more and reduce the anxiety for the ones that do not see any family.