The Child Welfare Information Gateway has released new publications this month. One, in particular, may be interesting to you:
Title: Child and Family Visitation: A Practice Guide to Support Lasting Reunification and Preserving Family Connections for Children in Foster Care.
Published: 2009
Available from: Minnesota Dept. of Human Services http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/ 444 Lafayette Road North St Paul, MN 55155
Printable version (PDF): http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5552-ENG
Abstract: This manual reviews the benefits of child and biological family visitation when the child is in foster care in Minnesota and sets out guidelines for conducting successful visits. Guidelines are provided that address: the first visit and frequency of visitation; supervision and location of visitation; engaging fathers in visitation; deciding who visits a child; visitation with infants and toddlers; developing a visitation plan; review and revision of a visitation plan; phases of visitation; terminating or limiting visitation; the role of foster parents in visitation; understanding reactions and supporting visitation with the child, parent(s) and foster parent(s); visits with an incarcerated parent; visitation considerations in cases of domestic or sexual abuse; visits with children in group care/residential facilities; and visits between child and siblings. Minnesota statutes about foster care and family are reviewed and an example of a visitation plan is provided. 12 references.
