Caregiver FAQs

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?

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 non gamstop casinos UK 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.

Resources

The court decides if you can afford to hire your own attorney. You can hire an attorney at your own expense or the court must appoint an attorney for you if you cannot afford one. You can come to court without an attorney and still be heard.. Even though you may not be required to go to court, one way to show that you are concerned about your child’s future is to attend the court hearings.

Find Services

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.

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.

• Your caseworker will help you by arranging visits, if appropriate, with your child, providing advice and counseling, and referring you to other services you may need.
• The judge may listen to both you and the agency and may make a decision based on your legal rights and what is best for your child.
• If you need assistance to verify the accuracy of the eligibility findings, read this helpful guide Relative Caregiver’s Guide to Benefits – Steps to understanding, applying for and receiving the appropriate benefits for foster children – The Alliance for Children’ Rights.
• Failure to contact the agency quickly (within 30 days of the child’s removal from the parents) may result in the child being placed with and adopted by non-related foster parents.

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.