As a foster parent and respected member of the DFCS team, you have many rights. Among these is the right to the following:

• To be provided with pertinent information about the child and his family. 

• A clear understanding of your role as foster parent, and the role of the birth parent and the agency with respect to the child in care. 

• Respect, consideration, trust and valuation as a member of the DFCS team, making an important contribution to the agency’s objectives. 

• Involvement in crucial decisions regarding the child as a team member who has pertinent information based on your day-to-day knowledge of the child. This includes the opportunity to share your knowledge of the child for case reviews and any other planning endeavor for the child. You will be given a copy of the child’s Case Plan.

• Freedom from built-in failure, by not being asked to care for a child whose needs you cannot meet. 

• Continuation of your own family patterns and routines as much as possible. 

• The opportunity to learn and grow in your ability to care for the child(ren) placed in your home through regularly scheduled training made available by the agency. 

• Help in securing appropriate resources to meet the child’s needs. 

• Reimbursement for the child’s care in accordance with established per diem rates. 

• Recourse to the Foster Parent Grievance Procedures to resolve differences of opinion related to the care of the child or to your role as foster parent. See Appendix C for the grievance procedures and forms. 

• Communication with the agency when needed. In some instances, you may have difficulty reaching the case manager who may be out in the field. You should also have access to the telephone numbers of other key staff. In non-emergency situations, call the case manager during working hours. In emergency situations, follow the county guidelines for reaching someone who can provide immediate help. This procedure varies depending upon the size and staffing at each county department.

• To be made aware of the agency’s permanency plans for a child placed in your home. 

• To be given official notification by DFCS, through Form 149, of the agency’s plans to terminate parental rights. See Appendix A. 

• To be informed by DFCS of the termination of parental rights on a child in your home. 

• To be given the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding your interest in applying to adopt a child in your home by completing, along with an agency staff person, the process contained in Form 150. See Appendix A. 

• The opportunity to complete form 151 regarding your decision to adopt a child who is currently in your home. See Appendix A.

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