As the legal agent for the child in care, DFCS has the right to knowledge, information and/or action regarding the following: 

• All concerns related to the child and his or her well-being 

• Any significant change in the foster parent’s ability or willingness to provide continued care for the child

 • Any change in the foster parent’s home that will directly or indirectly affect the foster child

 • To make placement decisions based onthe needs and best interests of the child 

• The removal of the child from a foster home that jeopardizes his or her safety and wellbeing The agency’s primary responsibility to children in care is to work collaboratively with foster parents and other caregivers to achieve the goals outlined in individual case plans that have been established to secure permanency for the child. This is primarily fulfilled in partnership with the child’s case manager, whose responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

 • Place the child in a foster home that is best able to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment

• Work collaboratively with the foster parent in planning the placement of the child 

• Provide as much information to the foster parent as possible, via the Georgia Department of Human Resources Foster Child Information Sheet (Appendix B) 

• Maintain a minimum of monthly face-toface contact with the child; this contact must be made in the foster home

 • Arrange visits between the child and his or her biological parents, siblings, or other family members, when appropriate 

• Remove a child from a foster home that does not meet the safety, stability, or other care requirements of the child

• Provide foster caregivers a 10-day written notice of intent to remove a child from a foster home (except when a safety concern for the child exists) 

• Arrange for the child’s medical, dental, and psychological care 

• Continually keep the foster parent informed of all case plans and permanency plans for the child in care

• Work collaboratively with the foster parent to prepare the child to successfully cope with unusual or unexpected events or situations 

• Assist or provide guidance to the foster parent in obtaining materials for the child’s Life Book 

• Notify foster parent of the agency’s intent to terminate parental rights, the permanency options for the child, and the opportunity for the foster parent to be considered a resource for permanent placement