Good Hearts prohibits the use of the following abusive, discipline practices and/or physical punishment:

• ridicule, verbal abuse or threats, or derogatory or humiliating comments;
• physical punishment inflicted upon the body;
• punishment for bed wetting or actions related to toilet training;
• delegation of discipline to another child or group of children;
• denial of food, water, shelter, sufficient sleep, clothing or bedding;
• denial of services indicated within the child’s Plan of Service/Service Plan;
• denial of communication with family or siblings as punishment;
• assignments of physically strenuous exercise or unproductive work solely as punishment (e.g. moving rocks from one pile to another; digging holes and filling them back up, etc.);
• requiring a child to remain silent for long periods of time;
• requiring a child to be placed in a locked room (seclusion);
• group punishment for the misbehavior of an individual child;
• delegation of discipline to persons not known by the child;
• denial or threats of loss of visits with family or siblings as punishment or deterrent to behavior;
• threats regarding the loss of placement as punishment or deterrent to behavior;
• verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, or threats of removal from the foster home;
• assignments of physical strenuous exercise such as running laps, sit ups, holding a physical position; and
• using food including snacks and candy as a primary reward or punishment.

Good Hearts promotes using positive discipline as a means of nurturing positive behavior, teaching foster children coping skills and personal responsibility, setting limits for behavior, and helping each child develop the capacity for self-control.

Positive discipline will be utilized to shape new behaviors and/or decrease negative behaviors.