Foster children are at risk for discontinuous and inadequate medical care, poor health and nutrition, and very low weight and height. The foster child's rights to confidentiality and privacy may result in less background information than the school team typically has for assessment and intervention services. However, the teacher should ask the foster parents about any special needs, problems, or interests the child has. Every effort should be made to help the child develop a relationship with at least one other person who really cares about the child, can affirm the child's worth, and can be a good listener for the child's concerns and conflicts. This person might be yourself, a relative, foster parent, counselor, or teacher aide.
Many foster children have good interpersonal skills and are eager for approval and affection.
Interventions that capitalize on such characteristics, like cooperative learning and positive reinforcement, should be sought. Interventions helpful for abused children include behavior management, self-management, and natural consequences. Neglected children are quite emotionally needy. They benefit from a structured, predictable environment coupled with much individual attention. For both groups of children the environment needs to have clear limits and consequences that are consistently enforced.