The question for April 21, 2020 comes from Lee in Potsdam:
Can you tell us more about the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard?
It was mentioned briefly at a MAPP training, but we want to understand it better.
Amy Drayer, the Director of Foster, Kinship and Parent Group Services at the Coalition answers:
The federal standard allows for caregivers to make parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, and best interest of the child, as well as decisions about the child’s participation in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural and social activities that are age and developmentally appropriate, in a way that protects the child while allowing for normative experiences.
New York State amended state statute and OCFS regulations to implement the Act. These amendments took effect on September 1, 2015. OCFS has published a booklet outlining the details. Download: Applying the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard: “Know” Before You Say “No”
Or call the Coalition Helpline 888-354-1342 for answers to specific questions.
Do you have a question? Call us on the HelpLine!
Call the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York’s toll free HelpLine at 888-354-1342: the only FREE statewide 24/7 service of its kind for designed specifically to assist foster parents, kinship carers, adoptive families, related professionals and those wishing to foster or become parents. We have the support you need right now.