Boundaries are essential in any relationship—between parents and children, friends, employers and employees, and certainly between foster and birth families. Simply stated, a boundary is anything that separates two things. For the purposes of communication and relationships, setting healthy boundaries means talking about what is and is not okay. As a foster parent, relative caregiver, or birth parent, it may feel awkward to bring up the subject of boundaries. As uncomfortable as it may be to give a parent parameters for contact with their child, imagine how that must feel for the birth parent. In order to support healthy relationships for everyone involved, it is essential to have these boundary discussions early and often as situations change.

 

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Author: Wisconsin Family Connections Center
Additional Author: Coalition for Children, Youth & Families