[Victoria Lane]

We have a cabin out of state that we spend every holiday at. Christmas is coming and I need to start making plans. Our foster to adopt daughter will be moving in with us very soon as a pre-adoption placement. Can I assume we can get permission from the courts to take her out of state for the holidays? Has anyone had a problem doing this?
Thanks for your input.
Victoria

[Crane13]

Yes. The agency will give you written permission to travel with her. You need an address and contact number to leave with the agency. There are many foster parents who choose not to take their fkids with them on trips, so you will be appreciated! Have a good trip.

Jill

[Victoria Lane]

Thank you for the information. That is a relief. We wouldn't dream of taking a vacation without her. She deserves this vacation every bit as much as we do.

[MommaD]

We've taken foster kids out of state before. We just have to tell the caseworker about a week before and he/she will give us a paper, signed by a judge and notarized that we have to keep with us at all times. I was told it's mostly in case the child needs medical attention. We did have to have a departure and return date, as well as the address and phone number of the place we were going. Hope you have fun!

MommaD

[mj77]

We never had to have a judge sign. We just call up our cw or our child's worker, tell them when we're leaving and where and for how long. They sign a consent to travel permit and have their supervisor sign it. We usually have it within a day or too.

[Crane13]

Actually, the purpose of the consent to travel is in case the child were to get in bigger trouble, like wondering away, etc. The 906 and medical card is how you justify signitures for medical help. Our SW made sure that we had copies of consents to travel when we have older and walking children. With the babies, she just put the consent to travel in the child's chart at the agency.

Jill

[kforkids]

Talk to your child's worker! It won't be a problem, but every worker we've dealt with had different "requirements" for notification, paperwork needed, etc.
Do this well before the holiday season, so you can get your calls returned promptly!

[Victoria Lane]

Thanks everyone for the replys. At least I know other people have been able to travel with their kids. I'll talk to the cw right away. I think we'll really have a wonderful time.

[MommaD]

When we had to travel we called the caseworker a couple of days before we left and she got us the paper signed by the judge. It wasn't a big deal. It did say that we had permission to sign for surgical procedures in case of an emergency, but only until the date we were to return. I just looked at it out of curiosity.

What is a 906?

MommaD

[Crane13]

At least in Illinois, the 906 is placement papers, and also notice of payment. Our latest kiddos have just been dropped off with a medical card and no signitures. Weird.

Jill

[lambeausam]

Sometimes, it depends on the status of the case. A new case in which adjudication has not taken place may require the bioparent's consent also. If you travel to a country that does not require a passport, such as Mexico or Canada, then you will most likely need a court order.

A 906 is the placement form used in Illinois that indicates the name of the child, the foster family's name and address, as well as the DCFS caseworker/investigator information.

Sam

[Victoria Lane]

Hi Sam, Thanks for the response. Our Forster child has been in the system for 9 months this time,(she's been in and out of the system most of her life) but moving to our home sometime in the next 3 weeks as a pre-adoption home. TPR hasn't taken place but is expected. We live in Florida and we'll be going to the UP of MI for Christmas and New Year. It will be her first time to see snow And she'll be taking skiing lessons right away! She can't wait and of course we can't to share all the new things with her. She'll be meeting her new Grandma and tons of cousins, Aunts Uncles, and 2 Grown Brothers. She's even an Aunt and will be meeting her Nephew. LOL I can't imagine a more magical Christmas holiday. It's our family tradition and we can't wait to share it with her, but if she couldn't go we would have a wonderful Christmas here at home. Nice but not the same as a white Christmas.
Interesting that she may be able to leave the country with us to Canada. In Feb. My son is playing in a hockey tournament in Canada, Pee Wee Quebec. We have been looking forward to it seeing it's a once in a life time experience but we had resided ourselves to my dh taking him and me staying home with her but if it's possible to take her WOW we'll be thrilled! I guess I need to ask these things before I assume she can't go.