Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System AFCARS The Administration for Children and Families

You are entitled to a number of protections as a parent of children in CPS care, but you need to work with your caseworker to fully benefit from these protections. CPS usually has legal custody of your child for a short time after your child returns to your care. If you do, the court may issue an order that you are no longer your child’s legal parent. Foster homes and facilities must be approved and monitored by a foster care agency (child-placing agency).This can be either a privately-run agency or CPS itself. Licensed caregivers provide daily care and are reimbursed to help cover the cost of caring for your child. You will be asked to give your caseworker information about relatives or close family friends who may be able to care for your child until it is possible for him or her to return safely to your care.

We will now ask for a login code anytime you log in.

• We will help your child deal with everyday life as easily as possible until your child goes home.
• Determine if your foster child’s circumstances have changed due to medical, behavioral, or mental health issues requiring additional daily care needs, or you have other new information about the child’s needs.
• The licensing, approval or certification agency will provide you with any needed Training to ensure the success of the foster child’s placement in your home.
• You should always go to court when you get a legal notice or a phone call saying that there will be a hearing about your child.
• How does a family member obtain placement of and adopt a related child who is in foster care?

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.

DFPS offers many resources for people who want to become foster parents, or who already have, or who want to foster as a first step towards adoption. Licensed caregivers are free to review (but not copy) the public side of your licensing case file. Contact the agency that licensed, approved, or certified your home for information about your foster home.

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

It’s important to have a medical evaluation first to rule out other causes of your foster child’s signs and symptoms. Basic foster care rates are set by the State and the county does not have authority to adjust them. The relative caregiver should immediately apply for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) at the county CalWORKs office where the caregiver lives. The caregiver should contact the agency which issued the license, approval, or certification. Your foster care license can be suspended or revoked; however, a foster care license cannot be “on hold”.

Letter from a foster family

Birth parents or the legally responsible caregiver from whom the child was removed have a legal right to have a means of contact with their child, and will be given your name and telephone number at the time of placement. When children can’t live safely at home and no appropriate non-custodial parent, relative, or close family friend is willing and able to care for them, the court can give temporary legal possession to CPS. When children can’t live safely at home, CPS tries to find relatives and family friends who can provide stability while the children can’t live with their parents (see kinship care). The county placing agency should provide you with the name, address and department number of the Juvenile Court in which the foster child’s case is to be heard. Respite care allows for the foster children to be placed with another caregiver for a short period of time – not to exceed 72 hours per session.

Agency contact information

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 gamstop casino 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.