When you step into the world of foster care, you’re regularly asked to manage situations and confront issues you may know nothing about. Depending on your child’s circumstances, this might include psychotropic medication.
Psychotropic medication can feel intimidating, especially when you’re caring for a child with trauma. And you might have left a treatment team meeting thinking:
- What is my role in all of this?
- Where does my responsibility begin, and end?
- How do I advocate for my child as a foster parent?
This article will help you understand psychotropic medication in the foster care system and your role as a caregiver.
What are psychotropic medications?
Psychotropic medications are medications that affect the parts of the brain that control mood, emotions, attention, and behavior. Psychotropic medications for kids are commonly used for:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Mood swings
- Sleep difficulties
- Intense emotional reactions
Children in foster care often carry deep wounds that cause chronic stress. These experiences can shape the brain in ways that make everyday life harder. Depending on the child’s circumstances, a medical professional may provide psychotropic medications to help them manage their symptoms.
As believers, we sometimes wrestle with the idea of medication. But Scripture reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from God, our Father (James 1:17).
Medication, when used wisely and ethically, can be one of those gifts.
How Do Psychotropic Medications Work?
Psychotropic medications work by helping the brain function more calmly and clearly.
For children who have lived through trauma, their bodies have been trained to stay on high alert, even when they’re safe. Some areas of the brain work overtime due to their experiences with instability, neglect, abuse, or chronic stress caused by trauma.
Psychotropic medication is sometimes used to help calm that internal alarm system by regulating the chemical imbalances in your child’s brain.
The medications don’t “fix” the trauma. However, they can help quiet the storm inside the child’s nervous system so they can think, learn, heal and connect more easily.
Some common psychotropic medications you may have heard of are:
- Ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse, used to treat ADHD
- Risperdal and Abilify used to treat irritability and aggression
- Prozac, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin, commonly used to treat anxiety or depression
What is My Role as a Foster Parent?
When you’re caring for a child who may need psychotropic medication, your role is to be present, observant, and willing to speak up for the child God has placed in your home.
Here are five things you can do as a foster parent to support your child if they are prescribed psychotropic medication.
1. Understand the basics of medication.
Ask questions like these to understand what your child has been prescribed:
- What symptoms are the medications supposed to help with?
- When and how often should it be taken?
- What side effects to watch for?
2. Give the medication exactly as prescribed.
Here are some easy ways to make sure you’re administering the medication correctly:
- Give the correct dose — never skip or double dose if a dose is missed.
- Give the medication at the correct time (i.e. Morning, afternoon, or night).
- Give the medication in the correct way (i.e. with food or an empty stomach).
3. Follow agency and legal requirements.
Some simple ways to ensure you’re complying with your foster care agency’s rules, as well as the law, include:
- Waiting until you have a court order or proper approval from the bio parents before giving the child any medication
- Making sure the dosage that is prescribed matches what is authorized by the court or bio parents.
- Keeping detailed medical logs about when your child receives doses.
- Storing medications safely by ensuring they’re locked and out of reach of children.
- Never changing or stopping medication on your own — doing so can be dangerous.
4. Observe and document changes.
Take detailed notes to share with your doctor if your child demonstrates changes in:
- Sleep patterns, appetite, or mood.
- Behaviors or physical symptoms not previously seen.
- Disposition, such as being calmer or more agitated than usual.
5. Communicate regularly with healthcare providers.
You can do this by:
- Asking questions when something doesn’t make sense.
- Requesting refills on time and reporting side effects.
- Attending appointments and ensuring your child attends medical reviews.
- Reminder, if the medication or dosage changes, so does the court order.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Psychotropic medication can help your child’s brain regulate. As a foster parent, you play an important role in understanding and managing your child’s medications and advocating for your child.
ACTIVITY
Playing a game like Know How, Know Where helps you bond and connect with your child and promotes healing.
Find this game and more in the Everyday Moments™ activity collection.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- How do psychotropic medications help my child’s brain heal?
- How can I work with medical professionals to advocate for my child?
KEY VERSE
“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” ~ Proverbs 4:7 (NLT)
PRAYER
Lord, give me clarity where I feel confused, peace where I feel anxious, and wisdom where I feel unsure. Help me understand my child’s needs clearly and hold us both in Your steady hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.
