I’m having problems with foster care services in my state What should I do? The Administration for Children and Families

This will be discussed at the CPS Permanency Conference that you will be invited to attend during the fifth month that your child is in foster care. You, your caseworker, and the foster parents may be able to set up a schedule so you can visit regularly to talk about your child. A Family Group Conference is a meeting where families join with relatives, friends, the community, and CPS to develop a plan to ensure children are cared for and protected from future harm. If a judge decides that a child needs to be removed, the child may go into foster care. The law, developed through a partnership between Illinois DCFS and the ACLU of Illinois, took effect July 1, giving Illinois the ability to create separate standards for relatives to be certified to care for related children and youth in DCFS care. DCFS strives to reunite children with their birth families, and nearly half of all foster children are reunified with their families within 12 months.

No notice will be given in certain cases where there are Allegations of abuse or neglect in the foster home. You also have a Right To communicate your interest to the court using the JV 290 Caregiver Information Form. You will also be required to participate in training on an annual basis in order to continue licensure, approval, or certification and to have placement consideration. The court requires a showing of good cause prior to ordering the disclosure of your address. You are eligible for a child to be placed in your home as soon as you are licensed, approved, or certified.

Community-Based Care

Where do I get a copy of the county file that contains information about my foster home and my family? Caregivers have a Right To(link) provide information to the court by filing a JV 290 Caregiver Information Form. If there is a court hearing I cannot attend, how will my input be provided to the court? You are strongly encouraged to participate, but if you are unable to, you should document your concerns and submit this to the social worker well in advance of the meeting. The California Department of Education maintains a Child Care Resource and Referral Network for information about affordable, accessible, and quality child care in your area.

Your child’s needs are the most important consideration in deciding where he or she will live while in CPS care. After working with you for five months, your caseworker must make a decision about what recommendation to make to the court in order to resolve the legal case. You and your caseworker should begin by talking about why your child is in state care. The caseworker makes sure your child gets good care and tries to help you work out your problems so your child can return home. The case worker is your main point of contact when your child is in CPS care.

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.

What does it mean when there is a ‘Hold” placed on my foster home and the non gamstop casino county will not place children into my home? Inclusion of caregiver’s name in the CACI means that no future placements will be made with caregiver. The caregiver will receive notice that referral to CACI is to occur and at the same time, will receive a Request for Grievance Hearing form. Depending on the preliminary findings regarding the allegations, the foster child may be removed from your home immediately . How much notice will I be given if the county placing agency decides that the child will be removed from my home?

Will I be told everything about the foster child’s birth family background – both at the time of placement and as new information is received by the county placing agency? Legally, the county placing agency must first assess non-custodial parents, relatives, and non-related extended family members before considering the former foster parent for placement. A caregiver has no legal right to be the first choice to become a foster child’s permanent caregiver.

• You have the Right To submit information you deem relevant to the court in writing (JV 290 form).
• You are still one of the most important people in your child’s life.
• If that happens, you will no longer be responsible for your child or have any say in your child’s future.
• When making a “Prudent Parent” decision, the caregiver must consider the child’s age, maturity level, mental and physical health, and other relevant factors.

CDSP calls Yejide Peters Pietersen as director of non-degree programs

It’s important that you let your child’s social worker know, at time of placement, that you need child care. It is best to speak to your foster child’s social worker and your foster child’s primary care doctor first to request that your foster child have a health assessment. It is best to speak to your foster child’s social worker and your foster child’s primary care doctor first to request that your foster child have a health assessment – see Health Passport .

Parents Involved with CPS

The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (PUB 372)  provides information on the permanency option for children in long-term foster care placements with relative caregivers who have become the child’s legal guardian. When determining permanent placement, the county placing agency gives preferential consideration to relatives and concurrent homes – that is, homes that provide foster care and are willing to provide a permanent home for the child if reunification fails. 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. The foster parent is a valued member of the foster child’s team and the county placing agency should promote and support an inclusive and team approach to decision making regarding the children in their care. At the time of placement, caregivers should always verify with the social worker or social worker’s supervisor what Payment is available for the foster child and when the payments will start.

Overview of 12-month court process for child abuse and neglect cases Foster parents must be at least 21 years old and can be married, in a civil union, single, divorced or separated. As of July 1, 2026, child care licensure is managed by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Finally, your state’s foster parent association or coalition may also be of assistance.