How Secondhand Smoke Relates to Foster Care

Foster care is a service designed to provide a safe living environment for children who need temporary placement. These children come from various backgrounds and many have special needs. They may have been prenatally exposed to drugs and alcohol; suffer from respiratory disorders such as asthma; classified as medically fragile; or, have nutritional deficits related to poverty or neglect. Their uniqueness compounds their need for specialized care to help them mange their medical conditions.

Secondhand smoke is dangerous for everyone, but many children in foster care are at an increased risk. Those children with respiratory disorders, including asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia must be in a smoke-free environment.

Whether or not you choose to smoke, you have a responsibility to the children in your care. Expose them to a healthy, smoke-free environment—one that should begin at home.

BCFS Policy on Smoking in the Foster Home:

The Maine State Legislature recently mandated that DHHS adopt licensing regulations which would prohibit smoking in foster homes and vehicles. DHHS has written policy to protect foster children from exposure to second hand smoke.

The policy states:

1. Smoking is prohibited in a foster home when a foster child is in placement.
   
2. When a foster child is absent from the foster home, smoking is prohibited within 12 hours prior to their expected return.
   
3. Smoking is prohibited in a foster home when a foster child is placed in a foster home providing respite care and within 12 hours prior to a child’s expected respite placement.
   
4. Smoking is prohibited in a foster parent’s motor vehicle within 12 hours before transporting a foster child and whenever the foster child is present in the vehicle.

“Smoking includes carrying or having in one’s possession a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or other object giving off tobacco smoke.”