FAD workers serve an integral and important role in supporting foster parents. They are responsible for ensuring that required documentation is complete and properly stored for all foster homes and for working in conjunction with a child's caseworker to ensure that foster parents receive information necessary to provide proper care.

Other duties and responsibilities of FAD workers include, but are not limited to, those described below.

Supporting Foster Families

The FAD worker must provide support and guidance to foster families to help ensure that:

  •   the physical, emotional and psychological needs of children under DFPS conservatorship are met;

  •   the foster family is aware of in-service training that can help develop their parenting skills;

  •   permanency plans are achieved for children under DFPS conservatorship;

  •   any need for intermittent alternate care (IAC) is addressed (see 7900 Alternate Caregiving for Foster Children);

  •   foster families are retained and treated as an important professional foster care team member;

  •   foster families support the child's birth family connection, if applicable; and

  •   foster parents are monitored and evaluated for compliance with the Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies.

Providing Foster Families with Documentation

The FAD worker must ensure that foster parents are provided with documentation from the child's caseworker, such as:

  •   court notices;

  •   court reports;

  •   service planning meeting notices; and

  •   the child's current plan of service.

Supporting the CPS Caseworker

The FAD worker must conduct joint foster home visits with a child's caseworker to promote:

  •   better communication between CPS staff and foster families;

  •   quick resolution to identified concerns; and

  •   receipt of updated information on the child's plan of service and the birth family's plan of service, if applicable.

Assisting Foster Families to Maintain Documentation

The FAD worker must ensure that foster families have the following documents present and accessible for each child in their home:

  •   Education log, if applicable

  •   Form 2102 [sic, broken link]Excel Spreadsheet Medication Log

  •   Orientation and placement paperwork

  •   Placement Authorization (Form 2085fc [sic, broken link]Word Document, Form 2085lrWord Document)

  •   Form 2279Word Document Placement Summary

  •   Form 2655 [sic, broken link]Word Document Visitation/Contact/Restriction Plan

  •   Form 2530Word Document CPS Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care

  •   Form 2410PDF Document Foster Care and Adoption Discipline Acknowledgement

  •   Current Child Plan of Service

  •   Medical, Dental and Psychiatric Information, including:

  •   Form 2403PDF Document Medical, Dental, Vision, Hearing, or Behavioral Health Appointment

  •   Form 2101 [sic, broken link]PDF Document Psychiatric Visit Documentation

The FAD worker must ensure that foster families have the following documents complete and easily accessible for inspection:

  •   The home verification certificate

  •   A current CPR and first aid card

  •   Training certificates (copies are adequate)

  •   The current fire and health inspections

  •   Form 2288PDF Document Disaster Plan for DFPS Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Homes

  •   A fire escape plan

Providing Foster Families With Record-Keeping Materials

The FAD worker must supply foster parents with blank copies of the following documents, as necessary:

  •   Form 2102 [sic, broken link]Excel Spreadsheet Medication Log

  •   Form 3005Word Document Serious Incident Report

  •   Form 2403PDF Document Medical, Dental, Vision, Hearing, or Behavioral Health Appointment

  •   Form 2101 [sic, broken link]PDF Document Psychiatric Visit Documentation

  •   Form 2656 [sic, broken link]Word Document Search of Person or Personal Belongings

  •   Other applicable documents