Impact Clients with Out-of-Home Placement

Impact Clients  | Amy holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice. In academic contexts, I’ve worked with youth for over 20 years. Avid reader, history, and mystery lover.

Out-of-home placement is a double-edged sword for children who have been victims of abuse and neglect. Investigate the effects of out-of-home placement, weigh in on the benefits and drawbacks, and obtain a deeper knowledge of this strategy.

Placement Away from Home Impact Clients

It may be essential to take children from their homes on occasion. Kinship placement (with family members), foster care (individuals or families qualified to foster children), and group homes (staff certified/registered to care for children in a group setting with other children) are the three basic out-of-home arrangements. In September of that year, according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data published in 2020, there were 407,493 children in foster care. Let’s take a closer look at the consequences of a child being removed from his or her home.

Out-of-House Placement Procedures

The ideal outcome is for a kid to be able to remain in their home while receiving care; unfortunately, this is not always possible. First and foremost, the social worker must make good faith attempts to avoid out-of-home placement that jeopardises the child’s safety; however, if this is not possible or has been tried and failed, the child’s protection must take precedence.

In order for a kid to be placed in the care of other family members (kinship care), the relatives must first be researched to ensure that they are an acceptable care placement for the child. Foster and group home caregivers are required to be licenced or trained to care for children. The goal is for the child to return home with his or her family, and permanent out-of-home placement is a last resort intended for extreme circumstances in which the child’s safety cannot be guaranteed if they return home.

Impact Clients

Out-of-home placement has different consequences based on a variety of conditions, including the child’s age at the time of removal. Removals can have both positive and bad consequences for children.

Positive Result

The fact that the youngster is safe and no longer in danger is an immediate plus. Another advantage is that while a child is away from home, parents can work on the issues that led to their removal and demonstrate their commitment to providing a safe and loving environment for the child to return to.

Negative Result

One negative consequence is that a child’s link with their parent is broken or diminished, especially if the child is very young.

The child may develop a strong attachment to their caregiver, making it difficult for the child to re-establish contact with their parents.

Another detrimental result is that if a child discloses abuse, they may blame themselves for being removed. They may believe they have betrayed their parents, which can lead to feelings of remorse, mental agony, and sadness.

A child who is taken from their home may feel abandoned, as if their parents don’t want or love them, and if a child is taken from their home on a regular basis, this might hinder their capacity to form relationships.

Other negative consequences of children being placed outside of their homes include:

  • Behavior problems
  • Problems with self-esteem
  • Regressive tendencies
  • Anxiety
  • Deep sadness and a sense of bereavement
  • Reducing Removal’s Negative Effects

There are several options for dealing with the negative consequences of taking a kid from their home. Biological parents/primary caregivers should be included in case plans to help them maintain a bond with their children while they are away from home.

8 Ways to Make a Big Impact in the Life of Your Clients

You can do a variety of things with and to your clients that either add value to the relationship or subtract from it. Of course, adding value is our goal; after all, they pay us to do so. If we aren’t adding value, we will not get compensated.

How Do We Reduce Value?

One example of a value-detracting activity is one that many divorce lawyers do on a regular basis; I’ve done it myself. When we should confront our clients, we occasionally let them keep their ridiculous ideas. We let them get worked up over something or other—something we know doesn’t make sense—and then we let it go on. Parents who claim they will never pay a penny in child support are a good example. Without engaging them, we let them rage and rant. We’ll take care of it later.

Failure to get a client back on track, even if it means jeopardising our relationship with them, is a value detractor. In my consulting interactions, I’m tempted to do it. Many lawyers I meet put their own business problems on others (a former associate, a crazy client, a hostile court system, etc.) rather than accepting responsibility for their circumstances. Even when they need some tough love, I’m hesitant to bring out their flaws in thinking. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship.

What We Do To Add Value

You are more useful to your Impact Clients if you engage in certain actions. What can you do with your clients to add value on a regular basis?

Here’s a list of behaviors that offer value:

Large gatherings.

Let’s not forget about the elephant in the room. Say things that others might not. Even if criticising parenting is socially taboo, tell the parent who is making a mistake that he is making a mistake. Explain how, in the eyes of a neutral observer, the client’s actions are causing problems. Give advise, ask tough questions, and do what you believe is right, even if it means ending the relationship.

Communication that takes place in person.

Important conversations should not be delegated to e-mail. Choose the appropriate mode of communication for each contact. Some conversations require face-to-face interaction. Others require a phone call or a videoconference. An essential conversation should almost never be conducted by e-mail.

Take control of the situation.

Don’t hold your breath for the client to call. Informing the client and taking the next step should be done in a proactive manner. Determine what has to be done before moving the client forward. Never wait for the client to take the initiative. Always try to stay one step ahead of your client.

Make it happen on your own.

Clients may find that dealing with an issue on their own is less expensive, more efficient, or simply better than entrusting it to you. The knowledgeable attorney discusses the “do-it-yourself” option and allows the clients to make their decision. It will cost you money, but it will bring value to your clients’ lives. Even if it costs you money in the short term, always provide value.

Over-communicate.

Check in, update, and take the client’s temperature frequently enough that the customer recognises your number when it appears on caller ID. Don’t just communicate at the required level; go above and above. It should be communicated three times: once, twice, and once more.

Warning.

Before something horrible happens, warn your clients. Your clients should be aware of what may occur and how it may occur. They’ve been told about all of the potential problems, so bad news should never come as a surprise.

Predict.

Be ready to make predictions. Sure, you’ll qualify your counsel, but don’t be afraid to share your thoughts with your clients. Even if it comes back to bite you, give them the benefit of your knowledge. Let them know where you’re going. This is especially true if the news is negative. If things aren’t going to work out, let them cut their losses.

You’ve crossed the line.

We are concerned about crossing societal barriers. They must be crossed. Don’t be stingy with your words. These people aren’t just your buddies; they’re more. Your obligation to your Impact Clients is greater than your obligation to a buddy. These people are paying you to give them advise. You owe them all of your thoughts. Even if it’s uncomfortable and awkward, give it to them. Don’t be held back by social conventions; there’s far too much at stake.

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Some of these activities aren’t what a typical lawyer would recommend to a regular client. They go above and beyond what we normally provide in many of our attorney-client engagements. They’re extra, value-added actions that ensure clients reap the full benefits of their wise decision to hire you. So what if the actions aren’t standard? Isn’t it true that you’re aiming for more? Do you mind if you’re stereotyped?

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

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