In-Service Training: Normalcy and the Prudent Parent Standard
Tuesday October 23, 12:00pm-1:00pm (Lunch and Learn)
Conference rooms BC
Staff Development: Normalcy and the Prudent Parent Standard, presented by Beth Cardina
The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, was passed in 2014. This law requires states to implement a Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard to support normalcy for children in care. This law focuses on the child welfare goal of well-being, after years of restrictive policies that put safety over well-being (Juvenile Law Center, 2015). Ohio passed a similar law in 2014, Ohio House Bill 213. This law went into effect September, 2014. The reasonable and prudent parent standard is characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, and best interests of a child while at the same time encouraging the emotional and developmental growth of the child participating in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities. The goals of the reasonable and prudent parent standard are to:
• Provide children in foster care with a “normal” life experience.
• Empower foster care providers (homes, group homes, facilities) to encourage children to engage in extracurricular activities that promote child well-being.
• Allow foster care providers (homes, group homes, facilities) the ability to make reasonable parenting decisions without waiting to obtain additional permissions from the custodial case manager or the Child & Family Team. (Ex: Field trip permissions, attendance at school functions, carpools, etc.)
*Please note: Lunch will not be provided*
