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Day 14 of Asher's Journey

A Mix of Joy & Anxiety

Asher and Mom returned home today. There was apprehension, relief and joy. They're managing some big emotions today.


Below you'll learn about how Asher and Mom are feeling, as well as how other people have been or could have been part of the support network for Asher and Mom.

WEDNESDAY - GOING HOME!

WEDNESDAY CONSIDERATIIONS

WHAT IS A SAFETY SERVICE PROVIDER?

 

Mom and Asher just returned home from staying with a Family Friend. We didn’t tell you much about this person but they have been a silent hero in this story.

 

When DHS puts a safety plan in place, they need a Safety Service Provider, a verified safe person who is willing to help assure child safety.

 

They could be a friend, neighbor or grandparent. It may even be you!

 

“A safety service provider is a participant in the Protective Action or the Ongoing Safety Plan whose actions, assistance or supervision help a family in managing a child's safety or increasing the protective capacities of the child's parent or caregiver."

 

Safety service providers might be someone a family goes and stays with or a person that comes to stay with a family. Maybe Grandma or another relative comes for an extended visit. Maybe a friend has space to host a family or a retired neighbor who can check on a family and provide help. In our Scenario with Asher the family friend provided a safe place to stay but they also would have committed to let DHS know if Asher was in danger, if Dad was coming around or if Mom was taking Asher back to the unsafe home with Dad. The Safety Service Provider would also report if Mom was not providing appropriately for Asher’s care.


Here are links to the Oregon Laws around Safety Service Providers:

 

https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=248206


https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_413-015-1220 


https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_413-015-1230

WHEN DOES A FOSTER PARENT or CASA HELP?


In talking about the child-serving system in our county we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about Foster Parents. The Amani Center has worked with many amazing foster parents over the years and provides supports for foster parents that are caregivers for children receiving our services.


If a Safety Service Provider is not available or if Mom was not willing or able to do what was needed to keep Asher safe, there is a possibility that Law Enforcement or Child Welfare may have to make other choices to ensure Asher’s safety. This could mean that Asher would be removed and placed in a foster home. This would be a very different story than what has been presented for Asher.


At this point, if foster care is necessary, the court system would become involved and a Court Appointed Special Advocate is assigned on the child's behalf. CASA's have huge hearts for the children we serve and are fantastic partners to our agency.


We are incredibly grateful for the foster parents and CASAs in our county. Some of our Amani Center staff even have experience in each of these roles in our community.


If you're interested in learning more about Foster Care opportunities in Columbia County, you can reach out to us and we'll connect you to the appropriate resources. Here is more info on that: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/CHILDREN/FOSTERCARE/Pages/become-fosterparent.aspx


To support foster families in Columbia County:

https://everychildoregon.org/nworegon/


To learn more about CASA:

https://www.casahelpskids.org/

If you have questions about our program, please don't hesitate to reach out to Beth or Amelia at info@amanicenter.org. We are happy to discuss what the Amani Center does for the children in our community.