Parents (whose parental rights have not been terminated) have the right to determine their child’s religion and to request that their child is placed in a foster home of the same religious faith. If possible, such a request must be honored when it is in the child’s best interest and feasible given the availability of foster homes sharing a given religion.

As a foster parent, you should make every reasonable effort to enable the child to practice his or her religious faith even if it is different from your own. This means arranging for the child to attend services conducted in his or her own religious faith and to receive instruction unless the parents expressly request otherwise in writing. The child’s religious faith designation cannot be changed except by written request and consent from his or her parent(s).

The agency must obtain the parents’ consent for a foster child to be baptized or receive any other religious sacrament. All religious certificates (baptism, first communion, confirmation, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.) must be recorded in the child’s legal name, never in the name of the foster parent. Keep such certificates in a safe place and give them to your case manager when the child leaves your foster home.

If a foster child needs certain clothing for religious purposes, check with your case manager to determine whether a special clothing allowance is available.

Page 51