Keys to the House It is very developmentally appropriate to give a child a key to the house, especially a child being trusted to be alone in the home for a period of time. You can decide whether or not to provide a house key to a foster child in your care. If you decide not to provide the child a key, you must make provisions for the child to have immediate access if arriving home before others or in an emergency situation. Public Destinations without Supervision Children who are 12 years of age or older may be allowed to visit public destinations without an accompanying adult. However, you must determine if that is appropriate given the child’s developmental and maturity level, history and other such factors. You also have to determine that the area is safe, appropriate and that the child has reliable means of communication. You and the child should have a clear understanding of the time to be picked up or when to return home. Curfews Once you determine that a child can safely travel in the community without being accompanied by an adult, a curfew should be established for that child. As with other decisions, you must take into account factors such as any legally required curfews in the city or municipality, the child’s age, developmental and maturity level, history of behaviors, extracurricular activities and your level of familiarity with the child. The curfew must be determined and understood by all parties and it is recommended to be included in the written social agreement or plan. A child must be provided with transportation home even when they have stayed out past curfew. If you are not available to pick up the child, you must make other arrangements. Refusing transportation home or reporting a child as missing should not be used as a punishment for exceeding curfew. It may, be appropriate to report a child as missing if he or she has not returned home after a reasonable amount of time past their curfew and if a current safe location cannot be verified.
Keys to the House It is very developmentally appropriate to give a child a key to the house, especially a child being trusted to be alone in the home for a period of time. You can decide whether or not to provide a house key to a foster child in your care. If you decide not to provide the child a key, you must make provisions for the child to have immediate access if arriving home before others or in an emergency situation. Public Destinations without Supervision Children who are 12 years of age or older may be allowed to visit public destinations without an accompanying adult. However, you must determine if that is appropriate given the child’s developmental and maturity level, history and other such factors. You also have to determine that the area is safe, appropriate and that the child has reliable means of communication. You and the child should have a clear understanding of the time to be picked up or when to return home. Curfews Once you determine that a child can safely travel in the community without being accompanied by an adult, a curfew should be established for that child. As with other decisions, you must take into account factors such as any legally required curfews in the city or municipality, the child’s age, developmental and maturity level, history of behaviors, extracurricular activities and your level of familiarity with the child. The curfew must be determined and understood by all parties and it is recommended to be included in the written social agreement or plan. A child must be provided with transportation home even when they have stayed out past curfew. If you are not available to pick up the child, you must make other arrangements. Refusing transportation home or reporting a child as missing should not be used as a punishment for exceeding curfew. It may, be appropriate to report a child as missing if he or she has not returned home after a reasonable amount of time past their curfew and if a current safe location cannot be verified.
5.15ADCSRPPSFosterParentUserGuide.docx