Religion and Foster Care    by Gregory M. Olson

Minnesota’s rule language leaves a lot of room for discretion by the foster care provider or the social service agency. This can cause problems, especially if the policies of the agency or the foster home have not been clearly outlined.

Foster care is caring for other people’s loved ones within the boundaries of our homes. The quality of care we give to the children or adults depends upon who we are and the skills we have gained either through our life experiences, or our experiences tempered by formal training. Each of us has a religious or spiritual foundation. In this country, the majority of us come from a Christian prospective. Some get their formative beliefs from other religions, and some have chosen an anti religious philosophy. Whichever of the three we follow, our choice permeates how we administrate, care for, and influence those we are responsible for. Our spiritual beliefs temper our delivery of service and can be a cause of concern.

In the Christian community many of us are familiar with the Bible verse that says, "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these, you have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). Those who have a personal commitment to Christ have decided that just going to church on Sunday is not enough. They believe that religion should be more than words and choose to act on a love for others that Christ first instills. They are more than Sunday morning verbiage, they are love in action. People of different persuasions or religions act on their own perspective in like manner. Each of us influences those in our care according to the depths of our beliefs.

How does the government handle these life motivating philosophies that influence our homes? The subject is not avoided; it is touched on in rule. The focus of the rule is usually the child and the child’s family’s religion. A recent document from Colorado lists nine points of concern regarding religion and the foster placement. All of the concerns reflect the Colorado’s efforts to respect the child’s and the family’s heritage along with the individual child’s religious desires. In Minnesota the concerns are wrapped in one statement found in Rule 1, section 9545.0210, subd 5; Religious or cultural heritage: "Special activities related to a child’s religious or cultural heritage shall be available to him." The focus, although less prescriptive than Colorado’s, is on the child and respect for his or her choice.

Minnesota’s rule language leaves a lot of room for discretion by the foster care provider or the social service agency. This can cause problems, especially if the policies of the agency or the foster home have not been clearly outlined. It can also lead to misinterpretation of incidents, because the individuals involved are viewing the circumstances from different historical perspectives. A wide variety of religious practices occur in Minnesota foster homes. Whose religious rights should be in focus? In our foster homes this could become a cause for contention. Each individual we care for has a circle of comfort in their personal religious and spiritual experience as well as a likely preference for how they would like to participate or not participate in a religious experience. The issue has multiple facets. First, a foster family may include numerous people. If the family is asked to cater to the desires of maybe one or two of the members that are placed there, it maybe possible to accommodate their wishes. But what happens when there are three, four, or maybe as many as ten different opinions on how religious activities should be structured?

Secondly, some advisors have stated that the foster family should not practice religion in their home, thereby eliminating all concern of the matter. More correctly, they are asking that foster families maintain an anti religious practice. This may be feasible, except for two major points of contention. A child may be denied access to the daily support for his or her religious experience, and the foster family is hindered from practicing their own belief and heritage. By taking a anti religious stance, we are requiring providers, their children, and others placed in their care to deny part of their existence.

Colorado decided that it needed to be prescriptive concerning the issue of religion in foster care. Here is a summary of their nine areas of concern:

1. The facility shall demonstrate consideration for and assist child’s religious interests.
2. Children shall be allowed and encouraged to celebrate religious holidays.
3. The child shall have opportunity to practice child’s or family’s religious preference.
4. The child may be invited to participate with the foster family’s religious activities.
5. The child cannot be forced to participate with the foster family’s religious activities.
6. The foster home must inform parents and agency before placement.
7. Religious intervention used must have prior approval.
8. Foster home cannot deny medical care because of religious beliefs.
9. Child’s family and guardian must be consulted before any changes in religious affiliation by foster family.

Colorado, with its team of parent and foster parent consultants, has a well thought out list of issues that focus on respecting the child and the child’s family who will be receiving out of home placement. There is still the underlying question of "Whose religious rights should be respected?" Wouldn’t it be better if we as providers proclaimed what our religious preferences were, and the social service agency used that as one of the criteria for matching us with the people who come to live with us? Many types of people in the world need many types of providers to care for them. A good match in this area may reduce the variables that cause disruptions to placements. I feel the greatest respect you can give a person is to give them accurate information, and then allow them to make a credible decision. Point six of the Colorado document specifies this as one of their main points. In our home we have practiced providing the child and their family with information about our religious heritage during our initial interview. For the most part it has not been a point of contention for the parents or the child. When it was, we were glad we had dealt with right away. In some cases we witnessed the parents of the child relax because they could see that our home’s practice of our religious heritage was close to their own. We have chosen to express our religious philosophies to the children and their parents at the placement interview. We believe it is unethical to withhold this information from them. We are careful not to pretend to be something we are not. It has worked well to express clearly what our religious expectations for our home are. It works well for us, for our birth children, and for all our other children who come through out of home placement.

Note: Colorado Department of Social Services, Staff Manual Volume 7, subd 7.714.100. 
Note: The Minnesota Department of Corrections and The Minnesota Department of Human Services are currently examining the Colorado document in their collaborative efforts to develop one out of home placement rule.