The month of June marks the beginning of summer – a time of sunshine and celebration. As children and youth celebrate the ending of the school year, Texas CASA encourages the network and those working with children to take a closer look at Normalcy and the Mental Health support needed for all children and youth in the child welfare system.
Under 26 TAC Section 748.701, “normalcy” is defined as the ability of a child in care to live as normal a life as possible, including engaging in childhood activities that are suitable for children of the same age, level of maturity and developmental level as determined by a reasonable and prudent parent standard. In the simplest terms, it’s the opportunity for these children to feel normal – to fit in with their peers and just be a kid.
The unfortunate reality is that there is nothing normal about foster care, and too often, children in the child welfare system are forced to grow up too fast. They are removed from their home due to abuse or neglect and placed in an unfamiliar environment, sometimes far away from everyone and everything they know. While their peers’ schedules are filled with things like sports games, summer camp, part-time jobs and weekend trips, these children and youth are doing their best to stay afloat in school while balancing caseworker and family visits, doctors’ appointments and court hearings.
