About a year ago my husband and I looked into becoming a foster family. This was when we lived in Austin, and the rules there were that potential foster parents (or people who want to adopt through the Children’s Protective Service) have to go through an extensive series of classes giving valuabel information on how to deal with children who have been abused.
But before becoming a foster family, both parents also have to sign a statement promising never to use any physical punishment of any kind, including spanking. I don’t know if this requirement is a city, county, or state law, but I know it is an absolute requirement.
So, my questions are:
Does requiring potential foster or adoptive families to sign a statement swearing to never spank protect the children who would be put into their care?
Does requiring potential foster or adoptive families to sign a statement swearing to never spank reduce the number of families who are willing to become foster parents?
Is this good public policy?
Is it unethical for good parents who spank in moderation (not beat or abuse) to sign a statement saying they won’t, then just discipline as they see fit?
Is it more unethical for good parents who spank in moderation (not beat or abuse) to refuse to sign a statement saying they won’t, and thus deprive abused children of a loving family?
You seem to have left out one option: for good parents who spank in moderation (not beat or abuse) to sign a statement saying they won’t, then change their parenting styles to actually refrain from spanking.
Neither Deb nor I were raised to believe that spanking was abusive. I am still not persuaded that all spanking is abusive. However, in our county, parents who intend to adopt are sent through the same training course as foster parents. People who adopt from the county generally foster the children before the adoption process begins. We were told that spanking was not an option for foster children, so, despite the fact that we thought it might have its place, we tailored our parenting to go along with the county’s rules.
But given that about 90% of families use some sort of spanking, (cite: http://www.unh.edu/frl/cp24art.htm) doesn’t this sort of policy rule out a huge number of potential adoptive or foster parents?
I doubt that most parents are willing to make the change in parenting style that tomndebb did.
If they got rid of this rule, would more foster children be more likely to be beaten or abused?
It seems like foster families who will really hurt the children would probably have no problem lying about this, and nothing is achieved, except that there are fewer foster parents.
If they got rid of this rule, would more foster children be more likely to be beaten or abused?
It seems like foster families who will really hurt the children would probably have no problem lying about this, and nothing is achieved, except that there are fewer foster parents.