Rebuilding Children's Lives: A Blueprint for Treatment, Foster Parents

This book is used by Girls and Boys Town to train foster parents who care for children who have challenging behavioral problems, are learning disabled, have suffered abuse, or have been diagnosed with psychiatric problems. It's packed with information, step-by-step techniques, and suggestions helpful to anyone caring for foster children, especially those with troubled backgrounds.

Provided are the foundations of good parenting: teaching social skills, giving positive and negative consequences, and preventing and dealing with behavior problems. Treatment topics such as using motivation systems, creating treatment plans, and building relationships are discussed. Also addressed are subjects uniquely challenging to foster parents, including working with families of origin, respecting cultural differences, dealing with issues of separation and attachment, and creating a safe environment for all children in the home.

The book includes dozens of examples and exercises; sample record-keeping and evaluation forms; steps, rationales, and hints for teaching 16 social skills; a glossary of terms; additional references, and an index.