Understanding caseworker deadlines is very important for caregivers to be able to have input into educational planning. There are specific DCFS forms that must be completed and kept in the child's case file. Form numbers are included here for your convenience in discussing the educational plan with the caseworker and in making requests for information. 

Initial Educational Plan: Within 45 Days of Temporary Custody 

An initial client service plan (CFS 497) must be completed within 45 days of temporary custody. In order to develop the service plan, all children entering DCFS care receive an Integrated Assessment, which includes an initial educational assessment, within 30 days of temporary custody. The caseworker is responsible to complete the initial educational assessment and document it on the CFS-407-4 within 30 days of placement. The CFS 407-4 is then used to develop the initial educational plan (CFS 497, Part III) which will be reviewed at the first Administrative Case Review (ACR) within 45 days of custody. 

In some cases, it will be necessary to obtain professional educational assessments to determine the unique needs of the child. When professional evaluation reports or assessments are not available within 30 days, the caseworker may develop an interim assessment using the CFS 407-4 to be incorporated into the initial educational plan. 

Implications for caregivers: Any child placed with you aft er the first 45 days in foster care must have an educational plan in place. Reviewing the child's current educational plan with the caseworker prior to placement can help your family decide if your skills, time and energy can meet the child's educational needs, and the need for any necessary supports, such as special education services. After the child is placed in your care, you should be involved in developing an educational plan along with the caseworker and teachers. 

Annual High School Plan: Within 30 Days of Temporary Custody 

If the youth is attending high school when custody is taken, the assigned caseworker should conduct the Annual High School Academic Planning Meeting using the CFS 407-HS Annual High School Plan within 30 days of temporary custody. This will be used in completing the CFS 407-4, Education Profile (Assessment), as well as Part III of the Service Plan (CFS 497). If the youth is taken into custody during the months of April through June, the Annual High School Academic Planning Meeting will be waived until August of the following academic year. 

Implications for caregivers: Any youth of high school age placed with you must have an Annual High School Plan completed in August of each high school academic year. The Annual High School Plan provides a method of planning for high school graduation and post-secondary goals. It is important that you support your high school student's participation in the plan in order to ensure their goals are considered. The Annual High School Plan is an invaluable tool to help you ensure that your student graduates from high school by tracking credits earned toward graduation. 

Client Service Plan: Within 60 Days of Temporary Custody 

The caseworker will finalize the initial client service plan (CFS 497) within 60 days of temporary custody. By this time, the caseworker will have determined the child's academic, social and extracurricular interests, strengths, goals and needs and will have documented them in Part III of the CFS 497. If additional educational assessments of the child were determined to be needed within the initial 30-day assessment period, reports should be available by now. If the reports are not available within 60 days, the caseworker will document an initial assessment on the CFS 407-4. 

Implications for caregivers: Caregivers should be given copies of the child's portion of the service plan at placement and aft er each ACR. Therefore, if a child has been in foster care 60 days or longer, the child's needs in all of these areas can be easily discussed prior to placement with a new foster family.