A Parent’s Guide To Foster Care

You generally will not receive advance notice of the allegations made against you, or the home visit, until the social worker arrives at your home . If there is an allegation of child abuse and/or neglect made about me or my foster home, what will happen? What rights do I have if the Court and / or County decide to terminate the placement, remove the child from my home, and I am not in agreement? Current policy and federal and state law require the county social worker to make a diligent effort to place siblings together. It is important to keep in mind, however, that other factors are also considered, such as the current needs of the child, maintaining their school of origin and the need for placement with siblings.

If it is not possible for the siblings to be in the same placement at this time, law and regulations require that the county placing agency ensure that ongoing and frequent interaction occurs between the siblings to develop and maintain sibling relationships. In order to accomplish a change in placement, you will need to give the social worker a seven (7) day notice that you want the child removed , unless there are special circumstances that would require immediate removal. Once a foster child is placed in my home can I request that the child be placed with another foster family?

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.

• If your communication with the social worker is not satisfactory, you can contact the social worker’s supervisor and your foster child’s attorney.
• It’s important to have a medical evaluation first to rule out other causes of your foster child’s signs and symptoms.
• We will now ask for a login code anytime you log in.
• 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.
• Will I be informed of all case planning and decision making meetings concerning the foster child in my care?

Resources

You may be able to meet and talk with your child’s foster parents or other caregivers. Every year, thousands of foster families across Illinois provide a temporary safe haven for children who have been placed in DCFS care by local courts. The social worker or social worker’s supervisor attending should represent any concerns you have shared with them regarding the foster child. Preferably, the foster children will be spending respite with a family known to the children or have your foster child visit with the respite family beforehand. My foster child has extreme behaviors — how can I as the caregiver obtain additional resources for the child?

Overview of 12-Month Court Process for Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

The primary purpose of discipline must be to encourage appropriate behavior, not to punish the child. If your child is removed again, CPS will review your child’s permanency plan. You should tell you attorney right away if you already have one. 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. Some courts have specific local rules when a “re-removal” occurs. If that happens, you will no longer be responsible for your child or have any say in your child’s future.

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.

Your attorney can set a court hearing and try to resolve any disputes. However, if these problems lead to abuse or neglect or the risk of abuse or neglect, we might have to remove your child from your care again. You should think about this carefully and discuss it with your attorney because signing a relinquishment is a serious matter. Wherever your child lives, CPS will supervise the placement. CPS will contact the people on your list to find out if any of them would be appropriate and are willing to care for your child. However, your desires about the care of your child will be taken into account when possible.

Home Study/Home Assessment – This is an assessment of the home of any person requesting possession of a child for whom CPS is the managing conservator. You are still one of the most important people in your child’s life. We don’t have to be friends, but we can non gamstop casinos work together for the best interest of your child. We will explain that just because you are not with your child doesn’t mean that you do not love him or her. We will help your child deal with everyday life as easily as possible until your child goes home. No child in the managing conservatorship of CPS may be deprived of basic necessities or be subjected to cruel, harsh, unusual, or unnecessary punishment.