What is Normalcy?
Normalcy is the right for ALL Children and Youth in
licensed out-of- home care to participate in ageappropriate extracurricular, enrichment and
social activities
Normalcy is the opportunity for ALL Children and
Youth in licensed out-of-home care to achieve
emotional well-being as well as to develop valuable
life-coping skills
The Normalcy Act
Became Effective: July 1, 2013
The Intent of the Legislature:
Recognize the importance of making every effort to
normalize the lives of children/youth in out-of-home
care
Empower a caregiver to approve or disapprove a foster
child’s participation in activities based on the caregiver’s
own assessment, using a reasonable and prudent parent
standard, without prior approval of the Department of
Children and Families, the caseworker or the court
Some Important Definitions…
Age-Appropriate: Activities or items that are generally
accepted as suitable for children of the same chronological
age or level of maturity. Age appropriateness is based on
the development of cognitive, emotional, physical and
behavioral capacity that is typical for an age or age group
Caregiver: A person with whom the child is placed in out-
of-home care or a designated official for group care
facilities licensed by the Department of Children and
families pursuant to s. 409.175
Some Important Definitions…
Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard: The
standard characterized by careful and sensible parental
decision that maintain the child’s health, safety and best
interests while at the same time encouraging the child’s
emotional and developmental growth. This is the standard
to be used by a caregiver when determining whether to
allow a child in out-of-home care to participate in
extracurricular, enrichment and social activities.
Decision making Considerations
Child’s age, maturity and developmental level
Potential risk factors
Child’s best interests based on information known by
the caregiver
Importance of encouraging the child’s emotional and
developmental growth
The importance of providing the child with the most
family-like living experience possible
The behavioral history of the child and the child’s
ability to safely participate in the proposed activity
Normalcy Activities Encouraged and Permitted
Sports
School Trips
Dating /
Going to Dances
School Events
& Clubs
Scouting
Shopping at the Mall
Hanging out with Friends
Normalcy Activities Encouraged and Permitted
Bicycling with Friends
Family Outings and
Vacations
“Sleep-Overs”
Driving A Car
Going to the Beach
Learning a
Musical Instrument
Part-Time Jobs
The Role of the Guardian ad Litem Volunteer
Supporting Normalcy Activities
Be able to explain the Normalcy Act to caregivers if
necessary… Review Slides 2 – 8
Speak with the children/youth with whom you work
about the normalcy activities in which they are
currently participating
Speak with the children/youth with whom you work
about future normalcy activities in which they might
enjoy participating
Discuss with caretakers the normalcy activities in
which the children/youth are currently involved
The Role of the Guardian ad Litem Volunteer
Supporting Normalcy Activities
Investigate age-appropriate school and community
activities available to children/youth
Make sure you know the name of the group home staff
member who is responsible for normalcy decisions in
the event a conversation with that person is needed
Consider becoming a GAL Transporter…details on the
following slides
Becoming a GAL Transporter
Transporting a child/youth is an important way for
Volunteer Child Advocates to support normalcy activities.
As a VCA, you could to transport a child/youth to school
events – to eat out - to a zoo – to visit their siblings – to play
in the park – to have an ice cream cone.
You can help them do what other children/youth their age
are able to do!
Advantages of becoming a GAL Transporter
AN IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD
“The first time I took him out, he talked to me more about
his family than ever before.”
BETTER COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOUR CHILD
“(Transporting) has allowed the child to open up and share
things not previously shared.”
KNOWING YOUR CHILD BETTER
“I was able to see behaviors that I did not see on visits to her
group home that I was able to relay to her therapist.”
PERSONAL GRATIFICATION AND STRONGER ADVOCACY
“ I cannot measure the impact on the children but certainly know
the impact these (transportation) experiences have had on me.
Having the opportunity to participate in normal and stress free
activities has definitely created a bond between us. When we fight
battles for our beliefs we fight long and hard but, when we fight
battles for a child we have gotten to know so personally, we fight at
another level of our being. That time alone helps gain their trust;
their openness helps me better understand them and what actions
would be “in their best interest.”
Becoming a GAL Transporter
Transporting a child is voluntary and at the discretion
of the Volunteer and Circuit Director. If you are
interested in becoming a transporter, speak with your
Child Advocacy Manager (CAM) to learn more about
the application process in your Circuit.
Achieving Normalcy: Common Barriers and
Possible Solutions
Barrier: Resistance to Normalcy Activities
Possible Solutions:
Determine the basis for the resistance
Ensure that the resistant person(s) is familiar with current
normalcy law .
If resistance is related to transportation and/or finances
see next slides for possible solutions.
Request a staffing with all parties to discuss ways to ensure
that the child/youth gets to participate in normalcy
activity. If resistance is in a group home setting, be sure to
include the staff member in charge of normalcy decisions
If issue does not get resolved after the above staffing,
request team staffing with GAL Team (CAM and GAL Best
Interest Attorney) to discuss next steps
Achieving Normalcy: Common Barriers and
Possible Solutions
Barrier: Lack of Transportation
Possible Solutions:
GAL can become certified to transport
Talk with caregiver and caseworker about
relatives, friends, teachers etc. who might be able
to help with transportation
Barrier: Lack of Funding
Possible Solutions:
Talk with Case Manager/CBC about any other funding
sources
Talk with your CAM about asking your local non-profit to
assist with the cost of the normalcy activity
Achieving Normalcy: Common Barriers and
Possible Solutions
Barrier: Child/Youth Behavior
Possible Solutions:
Meet with all Parties as well as any therapists etc. who
may be involved with the child/youth.
Facilitate a discussion in that meeting about what
would need to happen for the child/youth to
participate in the normalcy activity and how to help
the child/youth meet that goal. May want to also
discuss what other types of activities the child may be
able to participate in NOW at their current level of
functioning.
Quiz Questions
Normalcy Powerpoint
The next two slides contain questions that are
designed to invoke your thought process in regards to
Normalcy.
Please be prepared to discuss the solutions you
develop with your Mentor and/or Child Advocacy
Manager (CAM) as your training moves forward.
Normalcy Question #1
You have just been assigned a case involving two children,
ages 4 and 9, who have been placed in foster care. The
foster parents also have two biological children, ages 3 and
11. The foster parents have heard of the Normalcy Act but
don't know anything about the Act or what it means for
them. How would you explain to these foster parents:
the definition of "Normalcy" and
the important highlights of the Act and
what factors they should take into consideration when
deciding whether or not either of their foster children
should participate in a particular activity
Normalcy Question #2
You are working with a 15 year old male, Steve, who is living in a group
home. Steve has had behavioral problems in the past and is now in
therapy. Although he still has temper outbursts, he is getting along
better with his peers. Steve has mentioned to you that he would like to
participate in the after school Robotics Club, which meets once a week
until 5:00 PM. The Club is currently building a Robot to compete in the
Regional Robot Competition which will take place in another part of
Florida over a three day period. He said he has been told that there is
no transportation available to pick him up every week after the club
meeting and that there is no funding available to allow him to
participate in the Regional Competition.
What are three (3) potential barriers to Steve's participation in the
Robotics Club?
Who should participate in any staff meeting held to discuss this
situation?
What are two (2) possible solutions for overcoming the barriers you
have identified?