Communicating with Biological Families of Foster Children

Without family involvement, children often do not progress in treatment. Children in out-of-home placement maintain a great deal of loyalty to their families, despite abuse and neglect, and are often caught in a split. Staff often have feelings of anger and blame towards families for allowing abuse to occur and damage the children they are now caring for. Staff members explore their negative feelings and learn how to develop empathetic, open, respectful, and inviting relationships with family members to help facilitate treatment.

Instructor Pamela Melvin, LCSW, worked at Edgewood Center for Children and Families for ten years in many different positions: Clinician in the Day Treatment and Residential Programs, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, and Clinical Supervisor of Edgewood’s School Based Services and their Kinship Mental Health Team. She enjoys doing clinical work as well as providing clinical supervision to interns and clinicians. Her style of training is very interactive, passionate, and engaging.