Jessica Ramsay 2/9/2010

FOSTERNUTRITIONPOLICY ACTION PLAN

WHAT IS FOSTERNUTRITIO

N? Policy requiring foster parents in the state of

Illinois to participate in a basic nutrition training upon becoming a foster parent. The current law does not require foster parents to engage in any training pertaining to a child’s health and well-being.

Amendment to current Illinois Foster Parent Law, 20 ILCS 520 Article 1 (www.ilga.gov)

CURRENT LAW

Article 1

Sec(2) Foster Parent Rights: The right to be given standardized pre-service training and appropriate ongoing training to meet mutually assessed needs and improve the foster parent's skills.

Sec(7)Foster Parent Responsibilities: The responsibility to assess the foster parent's ongoing individual training needs and take action to meet those needs.

(www.ilga.gov)

CURRENT LAW

Only mandatory training for foster parents pertains to contact with biological parents, information on adoption, and caseworkers

Not ONE of the other optional 12 trainings listed on the DCFS website include nutrition and/or health and well-being of foster children

(www.state.il.us/dcfs/)

FOSTERNUTRITION AMENDMENT

Article 1

Sec. (1-17)

Amendment: Sec (7a.) The responsibility to participate in the FosterNutrition training program along with foster child, if of age, in order to gain understanding of the benefits of basic nutrition for children.

OVERVIEW

Children in foster care among unhealthiest in the U.S., increased vulnerability to disease due to abuse and neglect, malnutrition common form of neglect (Jaudes, 2004)

Foster kids underserved by health care services in U.S., physically and mentally yet are more in need of them than the average child (Jaudes, 2004)

There is NO state requirement for those caring for medically fragile or high risk infants and/or children to participate in training about the nutritional and developmental needs of foster children – we assume they are knowledgeable

OVERVIEW

In 2009, 15,270 children in foster care in Illinois, 6,272 in Cook County

47% of foster children have clinically significant behavior problems based on nationally representative study

Foster children experience emotional and behavioral problems i.e. ADHD, ODD at a rate 3-4 times higher than children in general population

(http://www.uic.edu, 2010)

NUTRITION

Proper nutrition is essential in healthy brain development, especially in the first 3 years of life (Innis, 2004)

Nutrient deprived infants/young children at increased risk for below-average cognitive ability and above average behavioral problems (Innis, 2004)

Eating a balanced nutritious diet can control obesity, behavioral problems, ADHD, dyslexia, autism, mental health (Innis, 2004)

Habits formed in childhood are likely to follow into adult years – “ripple effect” (Boeckner & Schledwitz, 2006)

WHY FOSTERNUTRITION?

Foster children often come into care in a malnourished state from prior abuse and neglect, and health sometimes declines while in care (Gorski et al., 2002 as cited in Gamache, 2006)

Illinois Public Schools have implemented several nutrition programs i.e. National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Free Lunch and Breakfast Program, Special Milk, Program

IDCFS trainings inconsistent with the schools efforts, not ONE training addresses nutrition/health - children need consistency

Child Psychiatrist from Boston University, study on children in foster care vs. those not in foster care:

"The bottom line," she says, "is that malnutrition has marked effects on children's development. It is crucial that we develop public health interventions to prevent the long-term effects of malnutrition.“ (Galler, 2003)

WHY FOSTERNUTRITION?

Many foster parents have stated that they give up children and leave care due to lack of training and support (Gamache, 2006)

Family Meals – cooking together

WHY FOSTERNUTRITION?

OBESITY!!

Black and Hispanic children aged 6-11 more likely to be overweight than white children

In Illinois, 68% of foster children are AA, 24% white non-Hispanic, 6% Hispanic

80-85% of foster children in Cook County are AA

Nationally, 37% of AA children obese or overweight

….Foster Care is an un-tapped resource for obesity prevention and intervention!

WHERE‘S THE MONEY?

Monthly subsidy per foster child is distributed to foster parent for the child’s food, clothing and other necessary resources

This money is frequently used for the foster parents own benefit, not set aside for the specific needs of the child

Money often spent on fast foods such as McDonalds, Burger King because it’s “cheap”, but money is there to buy healthy foods – foster care agencies encourage unhealthy eating as well

EVIDENCE-PILOT STUDY

Gamache 2006 conducted 1 pilot study on effects of basic nutrition training for foster parents in Spokane, Washington

Focused on infant feeding and nutrition in early childhood, could be applied to all ages

Pre and post tests given to FP’s on basic nutrition, results showed 20% increase in knowledge among participants

Has not been replicated in states with high number of children in foster care i.e. IL and NY-unrepresentative

HOW?

FosterNutrition Sponsors and CoSponsors

Sponsor – Representative William Davis, Democrat 30th District – serves on Committee for Child Support Enforcement

CoSponsors – Senator Mattie Hunter, Illinois Democrat, Representative Joe Lyons, Illinois Democrat,

Senator Dan Kotowski, Illinois DemocratOrganizations - Illinois Department of Child and Family Services

(DCFS), Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC), Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois State Board of Education Nutrition Programs-all participating organizations/agencies , Illinois Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Illinois Department of Human Services

HOW?

Present information to foster care agencies in Chicago and throughout Illinois to gain support

Engage Illinois Public Schools for support by presenting information to school administrators – improvement in foster children lead to improvement in schools

HOW?

Training classes occur at public school location after school day ends and/or at nearest foster care agency – convenient for foster parents, children can participate as well

Trainings twice a week for 4 weeks, one hour classes

Qualified trainers hired by DCFS to go to schools and give trainings

OUTCOMES?

FosterNutrition mandatory training for foster parents has many potential benefits….

Prevent children from becoming overweight/obese

Foster healthier growth and development for already disadvantaged foster children

Prevent diabetes incidence in young children

Help children AND foster parents develop healthy eating habits, carry on throughout life

Help control severity of emotional and behavioral problems in foster children

Improve permanency and stability in foster homes

REFERENCES

Boeckner, L. & Schledewitz, K. (2006). Nutrition for the school-aged child. Retrieved from: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1086/build/g1086.pdf

Illinois DCFS (2010). http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/. Foster Care, change a lifetime (2007). Facts about children in foster care in Illinois.

Retrieved from: http://www.fostercaremonth.org/AboutFosterCare/StatisticsAndData/Documents/IL-Facts-FCM07.pdf

Gamache, S., Mirabell, D. & Avery, L (2006). Early childhood developmental and nutritional training for foster parents. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 23(5-6), 501-511.

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (2010). www.hfs.illinois.gov.Illinois General Assembly (2010). www.ilga.gov.Innis S.M. (2003) Nutrition and its impact on psychosocial child development:

Preterm infants. In: Tremblay RE, Barr RG, Peters RDeV, eds. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development [online],1-6. Available at: http://www.child encyclopedia.com/documents/InnisANGxp.pdf. [2/5/2010].

REFERENCES

Jaudes, P., Bilaver, L., Goerge, R., Masterson, J. & Catania, C. (2004). Improving access to health care for foster children: the Illinois model. Child Welfare, 83(3), 215-238.

University of Illinois at Chicago, UIC News Release (February 4, 2010). Grant to focus on helping Chicago’s foster children. Retrieved from: http://tigger.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/newsbureau/cgi-bin/index.cgi?from=Releases&to=Release&id=2750&fromhome=1

USDA National Agricultural Library, Food and Nutrition Information Center (2009). Lifecycle nutrition. Retrieved from: http://fnic.nal.usda.gov

Zinn, A. (2009). Foster family characteristics, kinship, and permanence. Social Service Review, 185-219.