A Parent’s Guide To Foster Care

You can and should decline placement of a child if you do not feel you can meet that child’s needs. Relatives should create a list of all the family members who would like to have placement and/or adopt the child, with addresses and phone numbers. However, in those rare situations where disclosure of any information would cause the foster child or foster home to be exposed to a known threat, the County will ask the Court to order complete confidentiality. Children in foster care cannot be compelled to participate in a religion that is not of their own choice. You will receive limited information about the child’s birth family, full disclosure of which is prohibited by law.

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Making the correct placement decision helps to minimize the trauma a child experiences during placement moves; ensures that the foster child is placed in the home best able to help and support the child; and reduces the risk of a subsequent placement change. Before a child is placed with my family, will I be told if there are issues relative to the child’s behavior that could jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of my family? If you have a concern about the disclosure of any of your personal information, you should discuss your concerns with the social worker at the time of placement. Will my family have to do something different because a foster child has been placed with our family? We are your child’s foster parents and we will remain in your child’s life only as long as your child needs us. CPS tries to accommodate the child and family’s wishes about religious training, within the limits of the caregiver’s situation, resources, and abilities.

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When reunification simply is not possible, as determined by the courts, many foster families choose to adopt the children they have cared for. The purpose is to improve the overall well-being of children in foster care and to keep them closer to home and connected with their communities and siblings. Community-Based Care is a way of providing foster care and case management services that calls on a community-based approach to meeting the individual and unique needs of children, youth, and families.

How do I find out which social worker is assigned to the foster child in my care? A foster home can be “on hold” as to placements as foster care placements are at the discretion of the county placing agency. You should immediately communicate to your foster child’s social worker your desire to have the sibling placed with you. I have a foster child placed in my home and would like the child’s sibling who is also in foster care placed together in my home – how can I make this happen?

CPS has a variety of initiatives designed to increase placement options to better match the needs of each individual child. Foster care is meant to be temporary until a permanent living arrangement is found. Where can I find information on the comparison of financial and legal benefits of Foster Care, KinGap, Legal Guardianship, and Adoption?

• The caseworker will usually tell you why your child is being removed before the re-removal happens, if we know where to find you and doing so won’t endanger the child.
• We will provide for your child to the best of our ability, not losing sight of the fact that this is your child.
• For those hearings that resource parents do not have a statutory right to attend, you are encouraged to communicate the status of the foster child to the social worker, social worker’s supervisor, and the child’s attorney.
• You have the legal right to be represented by an attorney if your child is removed again.

Once a foster child is placed with your family, you will be part of the child’s support team. Every foster child has the right to engage in the religion that was practiced in their family of origin or in the religion of the child’s choice. In the cases where the foster child is being moved from another foster home to your home, you should ask the social worker about a Transition plan for the child. In the case of an emergency placement, typically removing children from their parents on an immediate basis, meeting the child in advance is generally not possible. Kinship Caregiver Specialist/Kinship Worker – This is a CPS caseworker who works with relatives who provide care for a child in CPS legal custody. If no relative or close friend is available or appropriate, your child may be placed in foster care.

CPS strives to ensure quality services for children in foster care. Information about your foster home contained in the child’s service case file, however, is under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court and, other than the information you have a Right To , information may only be released with a court order. This contains information such as a copy of your foster parent license, the capacity of your home, and other general information about your foster care license. Will I be informed of all case planning and decision making meetings concerning the foster child in my care? When making a “Prudent Parent” decision, the caregiver must consider the child’s age, maturity level, mental and physical health, and other relevant factors.

I feel that my foster child needs counseling and the county placing agency is not providing these services – what can I do as the caregiver to make this happen? A county placing agency has told a relative caregiver non gamstop casinos UK to apply for CalWORKs instead of foster care payments. If a license has been suspended or revoked, foster children in placement will have been removed and the county will not place children with the caregiver pending the investigation and outcome. If your communication with the social worker is not satisfactory, you can contact the social worker’s supervisor and your foster child’s attorney. The previous foster parent does not have the legal right to be the first choice for placement in the event that a child re-enters foster care. If you wish to become the child’s permanent caregiver, make your wishes known as soon as possible to the child’s social worker.

The court makes the final decision about a child’s custody within 12 months, unless the judge grants a one-time extension of up to six-extra months. CPS’ goal is always to find safe, permanent homes for children as soon as possible. It is very important for children to have safe, permanent homes. However, you are still legally responsible for your child’s needs and the court may order you to pay child support.