[blubutterflies03]

Today social worker proved to us that she is trying to have power over us. We had our 6mth meeting today and waited 30 minutes and they only called in the bio-mom. 45 minutes later they call us in and only tell us when we are suppose to be doing visits...that we are doing a great job with that, that we have to take the baby to his dr. visits, and then that is it. We did not find out ANY information about what the birth mom has or has not done on her case plan. We hear she is getting out of rehab at the end of November and is moving into section 8 housing. She is depending on this and welfare to survive. Right now in ther rehab center she does not even have access to buy diapers for my sons brother. If she needs diapers, she has to call the social worker. She does not have her GED yet, and does not know what she will do to survive in 3 months to support her kids. I am wondering if they brought her in alone because they had to drill her on all she had to do, or if the social worker is still holding a grudge against us for calling her supervisor when she didn't return my calls, and then also the social worker told untruths at court about us and the CASA worker had to correct her mistakes.

All for the sake of children! Why dosen't this social worker get it??? why do you think we were left with no information???

[lovemy6]

You ruffled their feathers. Now you're being punished.

Standard DCFS practice!

They say one thing to us and say other things to everyone else. Too bad fp's aren't REALLY a member of the team!

[hunterfamily]

I sat in a staffing this week where the caregivers where asked to leave after we talked about the child. They(DCF) said that due to HIPPA laws they could not talk about all of the aspects of moms case plan with the caregivers in the room, unless mom was ok with it. Mom was not ok, so the caregivers had to leave. That could be part of the reason, the other part could be they are upset at you, but don't assume that is it. DCF does have laws they are suppossed to follow.

[blubutterflies03]

Originally Posted by hunterfamily

I sat in a staffing this week where the caregivers where asked to leave after we talked about the child. They(DCF) said that due to HIPPA laws they could not talk about all of the aspects of moms case plan with the caregivers in the room, unless mom was ok with it. Mom was not ok, so the caregivers had to leave. That could be part of the reason, the other part could be they are upset at you, but don't assume that is it. DCF does have laws they are suppossed to follow.

Why would HIPPA laws make it a reason for us to not be present. Please elaborate as I have a headache from all this! thanks!!

[Lumpkin]

Originally Posted by blubutterflies03

Why would HIPPA laws make it a reason for us to not be present. Please elaborate as I have a headache from all this! thanks!!

Exactly what I was thinking. HIPAA (not hippa) is all about health insurance

[EandDmom]

Originally Posted by Lumpkin

Exactly what I was thinking. HIPAA (not hippa) is all about health insurance

No, its a law that your medical information is kept quiet and private. I work at a pharmacy and I've worked at a doctors office before so I know a bit about this one.
Its so important that pharmacists aren't allowed to talk to you about your meds in front of other customers thats why you have to go to the private consult window.
No one is allowed in a doctors office in the area that stores the patients files unless they have been trained and have signed off stating they will follow all HIPAA rules and laws which is basically that you will NEVER talk to anyone about the personal medical info in the files.

[blubutterflies03]

so, I don't think it is HIPPA or hippies that caused me to be in the not know today. I seriously think that the social worker had an option to not let us come in and she choice that option. I know that the birthmom has so much to still do, and I am wondering if she didn't want us to know. But, in reality, I will find out, because the CASA worker tells me everything!

[EZ2Luv]

HIPAA laws cover a large variety of issues surrounding medicalcare. It is to keep all medical information private between patient and caregiver. Information cannot be exchanged with anyone but the patient except with permission from the patient. It could be as simple as calling a hospital wanting to know how a patient is doing(even if you say you are a reative they cannot tell you anything0,exchange of information between doctors in different practices(a medial release form must be signed). Where I work case plans cannot be discussed with anyone but the patient unless the patient request another party be present. It is used with insurace companies too, but it is a universal law within medicine.

EZ

[blubutterflies03]

Originally Posted by EZ2Luv

HIPAA laws cover a large variety of issues surrounding medicalcare. It is to keep all medical information private between patient and caregiver. Information cannot be exchanged with anyone but the patient except with permission from the patient. It could be as simple as calling a hospital wanting to know how a patient is doing(even if you say you are a reative they cannot tell you anything0,exchange of information between doctors in different practices(a medial release form must be signed). Where I work case plans cannot be discussed with anyone but the patient unless the patient request another party be present. It is used with insurace companies too, but it is a universal law within medicine.

EZ

DO YOU think then maybe cuz the birthmom is in rehab she is being protected under the HIPPA law?

[KT08]

I believe that some foster parents are given a copy of the case plan. That's not the same as sitting in on a team meeting, but it would be a lot more useful than what you're getting now.

You may have a right to the case plan. I am not sure of that. I have never received a copy of one myself!

[Lumpkin]

Originally Posted by EandDmom

No, its a law that your medical information is kept quiet and private.

I KNOW what HIPAA is. I am a software engineer who has worked in the medical industry designing software that has to comply to HIPAA (and enforce the HIPAA standards internally), so I am pretty certain that I know the REAL regs and not the hyped up BS.

I was simply trying to simplify the concept down the basic issue - which is that sitting in on this meeting shouldn't be affected by any HIPAA regs. It is pitiful though, however, that society has become so worried about getting in trouble over HIPAA that they go overboard and do more than necessary to comply with HIPAA - to the point that it becomes ridiculous at times.

Edit (upon rereading):
Above was not meant to be condescending or confrontational, but to simply indicate that I am aware of the issues surrounding HIPAA, and simply think that there are times like these where people just say 'HIPAA' and expect everyone accept whatever is said next and scurry away. HIPAA gets thrown around as an excuse for people not doing their jobs appropriately WAY too often, and it drives me nuts!

[greenrobin]

I've have my foster kids for over 10 months. In all of that time, I only know the vaguest of things about their mom's case plan. I know she went to rehab a few times. I know she's supposed to be getting counseling. I know because she told me.

Our sw is fantastic. We are included in so much stuff.

We are NOT included in the condidentiality of the case plan. That is a private agreement between DFPS and the mom. We go in to permanancy meetings until our part is finished and then we leave when it's mom's turn. We have no legal need to know. Am I curious? You bet, but what good would it do me to know the particulars?

My job is to take care of the kids. My input is only about the kids. When the team is finished talking to me, I'm excused and I go home. It is not a court proceeding that is open. There is confidentiality.

Imagine if the birth family got their act together and were RU'd. No one wants detailed information of their past troubles somewhere out there where they have no way of knowing--only hoping--that it is being kept quiet.

Until TPR, those kids are her kids. She has a right to know what is going on with them. She needs to know that they are getting the things they need. Not only is it a reassurance, it is a model of what is supposed to be done in a functioning family. Knowing provides support for working the plan because it takes that worry off of the family. What support does the biofamily get by the foster family knowing what they are supposed to be doing? None at all.

As hard as it is, that part isn't our business. Our part is to love the kids.

[callismom]

Where I live they changed the rules for these 6 month meetings so that they do the parents part first without the foster parents present and then they bring us in to speak about the child. I believe the role of the foster parent in these meetings is just to speak about how the child is doing, in school, home, problems, concerns and answer any questions. I was relieved that we didn't have to sit through the parents part anymore as I always felt badly that the parent had to air all their private business in front of foster parents. I don't think it is our business or right to know everything the parents are doing. That is not our role as foster parents. Our role is to keep the child safe and happy, love them while they are with us, advocate for the children, step in when necessary if we feel someone isn't doing their job. We can certainly ask the social worker for plans, etc. but it is not our job to know exactly where the parent is, what they are doing, if they can afford things, etc.

[blubutterflies03]

I guess yesterday I was feeling sorry for myself for not knowing....and maybe thinking the social worker was targeting me for making her angry at one point. But now I see I need to stop being so darn curious, and focus on my children. I need to not worry about what is not my business. I guess I am just worried that if the state won't do what they are suppose to and it might jeopardize the kids.

I promise to refocus and to remember what my goal is here....to love these children and do everything I can for them. I need to take my emotions out of the fact other people such as the bio's are involved here, and put my priority on the children. Thanks to all of you who put me back on track. i don't know what I would do without you guys!!

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by blubutterflies03

Today social worker proved to us that she is trying to have power over us. We had our 6mth meeting today and waited 30 minutes . We did not find out ANY information about what the birth mom has or has not done on her case plan.

I've had "Brandon" for a year and the only info I EVER found out came from his attorney. The baby's cw wouldn't even tell me the bio-dad's name (bio-dad was MIA and not involved in current case). After court dates, the only info that the cw will give is "He's staying in foster care" and the date of the next hearing. Other than that, I got nothing. They wouldn't even tell me why he was taken into care. Once I got to know the bio-mom, she divulged what had happened. If it wasn't for the baby's lawyer, I would have absolutely NO IDEA what was expected of the bio-mom and how the case was progressing.