While we remain deeply committed to community living for people with mental retardation, we have a clearer vision today of how best to support adults and children with developmental disabilities in the community.
We believe that all children with developmental disabilities, regardless of the severity of disability, belong with families. Yet, thousands of children with developmental disabilities remain in public institutions, while thousands of others have been placed in nursing homes, group homes and other facilities. In most states, families still do not receive the supports necessary to keep their children at home.
In order to advocate for the right of children with developmental disabilities to live with families, we developed the following position statement, A Statement in Support of Families and their Children. This statement grew out of a meeting we held in 1985 that included representatives from states, universities, parent and consumer associations, and agencies from around the country.
THESE PRINCIPLES SHOULD GUIDE PUBLIC POLICY TOWARD FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES...AND THE ACTIONS OF STATES AND AGENCIES WHEN THEY BECOME INVOLVED WITH FAMILIES.
All children, regardless of disability, belong with families and need enduring relationships with adults.
When states or agencies become involved with families, permamency planning should be a guiding philosophy. As a philosophy, permanency planning endorses children's rights to a nurturing home and consistent relationships with adults. As a guide to state and agency practice, permanency planning requires family support, encouragement of a family's relationship with the child, family reunification for children placed out of home, and the pursuit of adoption for children when family reunification is not possible.
Families should receive the supports necessary to maintain their children at home. Family support services must be based on the principle "whatever it takes".
In short, family support services should be flexible, individualized, and designed to meet the diverse needs of families.
Family supports should build on existing social networks and natural sources of support.
As a guiding principle, natural sources of support, including neighbours, extended families, friends, and community associations, should be preferred over agency programs and professional services. When states or agencies become involved with families, they should support existing social networks, strengthen natural sources of support, and help build connections to existing community resources. When natural sources of support cannot meet the needs of families, professional or agency-operated support services should be available.
Family supports should maximize the family's control over the services and supports they receive.
Family support services must be based on the assumption that families, rather than states and agencies, are in the best position to determine their needs.
Family supports should support the entire family.
Family support services should be defined broadly in terms of the needs of the entire family, including children with disabilities, parents, and siblings.
Family support services should encourage the integration of children with disabilities into the community.
Family support services should be designed to maximise integration and participation in community life for children with disabilities.
When children cannot remain with their families for whatever reason, out-of-home placement should be viewed initially as a temporary arrangement and efforts should be directed toward reuniting the family.
Consistent with the philosophy of permanency planning, children should live with their families whenever possible. When, due to family crisis or other circumstances, children must leave their families, efforts should be directed at encouraging and enabling families to be reunited.
When families cannot be reunited and when active parental involvement is absent, adoption should be aggressively pursued.
In fulfillment of each child's right to a stable family and an enduring relationship with one or more adults, adoption should be pursued for children whose ties with their families have been broken. Whenever possible, families should be involved in adoption planning and, in all cases, should be treated with sensitivity and respect. When adoption is pursued, the possibility of "open adoption," whereby families maintain involvement with a child, should be seriously considered.
While a preferred alternative to any group setting or out-of-home placement, foster care should only be pursued when children cannot live with their families or with adoptive families.
After families and adoptive families, children should have the opportunity
to live with foster families. Foster family care can provide children with
a home atmosphere and warm relationships and is preferable to group settings
and other placements. As a state or agency sponsored program, however,
foster care seldom provides children the continuity and stability they
need in their lives. While foster families may be called upon to assist,
support, and occasionally fill in for families, foster care is not likely
to be an acceptable alternative to fulfilling each child's right to a stable
home and enduring relationships.