[6furbabies]

Hi everyone,

I've had my foster daughter for about 5 months now. I've never met her birth parents (dad is violent), and DSS feels it's not a good idea for me to go to any of the court hearings... The problem is that I'm very poorly informed about what happens in court. My fd's first sw left, and now she has a new sw, whom I've never heard from at all in the past 2 weeks she's been her sw. Never heard from or met the GAL either. This is my first foster child, and I feel so ill-prepared to deal with DSS and the court system. I don't really know what is my "business" to know and what isn't.

My questions for you all are: Are there court records for juvenile district courts? Can I have access to those records? If I cannot have access to those records, can I contact the GAL directly and talk to him about what's going on?

I just feel so uninformed of what's going on, and it's really driving me crazy!!!

Thanks!

[Chancey]

I always contact the GAL directly and get additional info from them. I am in Texas and the CPS docket at court is open; so, when I was a newbie foster parent, I would go to court and just sit in the audience. I was able to hear the whole case and the parents never knew who I was cause there are 40 or more people watching the hearings. I would check to see if that is the case with your area and if it is, just go sit in the audience. Don't talk to the SW and GAL at court to keep yourself safe from Dad.

[ABJones]

We get the court report the case worker writes up before court. We also talk to her after court to see how everything went. I don't call GAL after court because CW keeps me informed. But you can. You just have to be a little demanding. I know it sounds bad, but if I didn't pester them in the beginning, I don't if I would have ever been informed. Also my homes certification worker answers, or gets answers to my questions for me, if I am not getting a response. You could always try that. Hope this helps. Good Luck.

[mamachell]

I have contacted our GAL and we keep each other informed. Usually I'll just send her email updates but she usually only contacts me near court dates.

I do go to court. Where I am in CA only parties involved in the case can be in court so birthmom definately knows when I'm there. Foster parents can attend court.

You should also find out how you can communicate with the judge. In CA there is a specific form you can fill out or you can write a letter and include pictures.

Also, if you can file for de facto/3rd party status at the 6 month mark do it. You will get so much more information.

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by mamachell

Also, if you can file for de facto/3rd party status at the 6 month mark do it. You will get so much more information.

I know you are able to do this, but I would talk with someone and weigh the pros and cons of that when there are violent people involved.

my cw has told me that if we ever needed to go that route, the only bad thing about doing that is that you have to state your whole name in court which gives people access to find you if they so wanted to. So you would want to have precautions set in place if you decide to go defacto

[JustAntotherThought]

Our caseworker is really good about letting us know. We don't have to give any part of our name when we are at court, just Foster Parent or Foster Mom/Dad.

I have heard two schools of thought from foster parents. Some believe it is best not to know and others believe want to know everything they can. Funny thing is I have one FD that I know EVERYTHING, I see parents a few times a week, I talk to them, I have met grandparents, siblings etc, been to Court hearings all the team meetings etc. Other FD I really don't know anything. Really it is a toss up to me which one is better. There are times I wish I didn't know I did and there are times I wish I knew more.

[mamachell]

As PP said, when I filed for defacto the judge had me write my name on a piece of paper and hand it to the court reporter. I really appreciated that so that way I didn't have my name read in court. I'm not sure if it's common practice or not.

Also, for some reason I don't think some cw's want foster parents to file because it does give fp's a certain amount of power. I know also on these forms fp's become afraid cw's will get mad at them or punish them for filing. In my case at least I think it was the best thing I did. It does set you and your fc up for certain legal protections and in CA if you are going to eventually file for Prospective Adoptive Parent status, which means fc can't be moved without a hearing, having de facto status first makes it much easier to get PAP status.

[FullQuiverMamma]

I think that it is an excellent idea to not have your name read aloud in court. We have given up a LOT of privacy with our adoptive daughter and it has truly unnerved us and actually caused disruption in our family. It can put your children in harm's way for sure.

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by mamachell

As PP said, when I filed for defacto the judge had me write my name on a piece of paper and hand it to the court reporter. I really appreciated that so that way I didn't have my name read in court. I'm not sure if it's common practice or not.

Also, for some reason I don't think some cw's want foster parents to file because it does give fp's a certain amount of power. I know also on these forms fp's become afraid cw's will get mad at them or punish them for filing. In my case at least I think it was the best thing I did. It does set you and your fc up for certain legal protections and in CA if you are going to eventually file for Prospective Adoptive Parent status, which means fc can't be moved without a hearing, having de facto status first makes it much easier to get PAP status.

oh wow, that's great how you had that done. My cw isn't against it, she just said that if something ever happened that stalled after 6 months of placement that this was an option, but that your name has to be made known.

Something to think about...of course my cw isn't like a lot that I hear about on here so I could have an honest conversation with her.

[Yash]

Originally Posted by 6furbabies

Hi everyone,

I've had my foster daughter for about 5 months now. I've never met her birth parents (dad is violent), and DSS feels it's not a good idea for me to go to any of the court hearings... The problem is that I'm very poorly informed about what happens in court. My fd's first sw left, and now she has a new sw, whom I've never heard from at all in the past 2 weeks she's been her sw. Never heard from or met the GAL either. This is my first foster child, and I feel so ill-prepared to deal with DSS and the court system. I don't really know what is my "business" to know and what isn't.

My questions for you all are: Are there court records for juvenile district courts? Can I have access to those records? If I cannot have access to those records, can I contact the GAL directly and talk to him about what's going on?

I just feel so uninformed of what's going on, and it's really driving me crazy!!!

Thanks!

I would contact the GAL, get your updates from him or her, and give her updates before all court hearings. If DSS says don't show up, TRUST THEM.

My son's CW said the same thing about my son's birthmom. When his birthmom did visit, the CW made sure it was at a DCF office with police officers on the premise.

[arbuckle17]

We work through both our GAL and SW for translation of the court info, and tell us what happened. They have always told us that our appearance at court is completely optional.

Between therapies for special needs, maintanence on the house, Public Nurses, GAL visits, SW visits, CW visits, and fam planning meetings I just can't take anymore time off work to attend court, and my wife has her hands full with the boys (who are both toddlers so there is no way they would sit through a court hearing).

I have had some lawyers call and ask for updates on there progress which we were oked to offer them, but only with the strict understanding that if we weren't comfortable with that then we can direct them to the GAL.