[suzyq18]

The last update we had on the case plan was a court hearing in early June. Judge ordered continuation of sibling visits, some things relating to our foster son's siblings (who live in another foster home) and that was it.... it indicated the next hearing would not be until NOVEMBER and it would be a "permanancy" hearing. The goal of the case plan has been reunification.

We are about seven months into this plan.

Can anyone tell me if there will be other hearings up until November or is this it????

What happens at a permanency hearing? Are we permitted to attend?

[hunterfamily]

Your in Florida? If so you are permitted to attend every hearing, and you should be notified of every hearing. You may only sit in the back of the court room, but you are allowed to be there. You will only have court hearings every 6 months unless something comes up that requires the courts attention. Every six months the court will look at the case plan and how the parents are doing and decided if the current goal is still the right goal. The one in November is call a permanency hearing because in the state of Florida, by law, permanency for the child is to be achieved in 12 months(recently changed to 9 for all new cases). The case plan will be set to expire at this time and that is when the judge will accept a new case plan for a different goal, or extend the reunification case plan. This will be based on the parents compliance with the case plan.

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Where I am at, we have "staffings" every 3 months at DCFS offices. Bioparents and their lawyers are requested to attend as well as foster parents, therapists, GAL, CASA, and of course cw and sometimes cw supervisor. These go over caseplan and any changes as well as any progress or lack thereof that mom and dad are making. We discuss how foster child is doing in our home. Therapists may discuss some concerns and often request to begin family therapy if caseplan is going well and it looks like reunification will actually happen.

They are required every 90 days and they are required to inform us of the date and time. It got everyone on the same page of info before the next court date, etc.

Talk with cw. In our classes, there was a former cw becoming a foster parent and she said that many will NOT inform foster parents and others because the meeting will go so much faster with fewer people there but that we DO have a right to be informed of the meeting and to be there. DH and I have been to each and every one for our foster children. Much more is discussed and explained there then we ever learned in court (I could barely hear what was said).

Also, out of all the staffings, bioparents lawyers came to every single one but never did a bioparent show. Sad.

Kim

[hunterfamily]

Thats interesting about the staffings. I have never seen a lawyer even invited to a staffing(they wouldn't come if they where) but most of the time the parents are there. Things vary state to state. In florida you will have a staffing every 3 to 6 months depending on the need. They will have a staffing about a month before the court hearing and foster parents are allowed to attend.