[unclederwood]

Hi everyone! I am a fairly new foster mom and need some advise please. We received our first placement in October. We are with a private agency and they have been wonderful! We see our family case worker at least once a month. Since we have received our FS, we have not yet met his case worker through CPS. Should we be concerned? I guess I'm really trying to find out what is going on with finding dad, relatives and mom's case plan. This is all so new to me, so I'm not sure if this typical for CPS or not.

[txsar]

We too are with a private agency and see our agency case manager once per month. Unfortunately he usually has less information than I do regarding the case. We have had our fs for 5 months and the CPS cw has never been to our house. She sees our fs at some of the supervised visits he has at the CPS office. I have only talked to the cw a few times. I get most of my information from our fs CASA volunteer. She is much easier to get in touch with and provides me with more information than the cw.

Sorry I don't have any advise. We are fairly new foster parents too and kind of feeling our way around.

Good luck.

[jigger]

Hi -- We were with a private agency as well. BOTH of your case workers (agency and CPS) are required to visit your home and your foster child once per month.

Remember, the CPS worker can be your best advocate if you are working toward adoption with the foster child. I'd give them a call and just introduce myself and offer to help in any way possible. This process is a lot easier if you have a good relationship with your case worker.

[unclederwood]

Thanks for the information. I've been trying to find out if our FS has a CASA, but haven't received any information back. It kind of concerns me that decisions are being made about what's best for FS, but he has never met him.

[EmmaLeigh2882]

Although CPS is required to visit at least once a month and the GAL is required to visit at least once per quarter I found that it doesn't happen.

The best way I have found to get information is EMAIL. I email the workers regularly- I guess you might say I am a pest... but I also get more information that way ( wither or not its accurate information I don't know!)

[unclederwood]

I finally got hold of our CPS worker through email. He was very perturbed and defensive about my questions. He calims that his assistant dropped off Christmas presents for our FS, but this never happened. Luckily for us, our family case worker is aware of what is going on. This seems to be an ongoing problem with the casework. His assistant is actually a driver and can "see" children.

[TexasJingles]

Our agency worker was required to see us every 2 weeks and CPS once a month, in the house.

Since our CPS worker was far away (about 5 hours), sometimes she had a co-worker drop in on us, or near the end sort of transferred us to the local CPS unit.

Because I had contact with both wkrs, sometimes I could see between the lines. You'd be amazed at what they won't tell each other.

My advice is that if the CPS worker is being a turkey, then just ask for your agency worker to run interference. You could always go over his head to his supervisor, but that would probably make him go from a turkey to a wildebeast!

Just keep documenting. Keep copies of any reports that you're required to turn in. That way if and when you find the child's GAL or CASA, you can make sure they are updated on what is actually going on with the child.

[KT9]

Another newbie here. What is a GAL and a CASA?

[skylark_25]

I recently found out some of the "rules" regarding caseworkers visiting. The child cw is required to make a visit with the child once a month, but these visits can occur at daycare or during the child's visitation with the bio parents. Also if case loads are high they are allowed to count the visit of another worker for their once a month. Finally the caseworker is absolutely REQUIRED to make a visit in the HOME at least one time every three months. Also someone asked about a CASA worker, and not every child has one. A CASA worker has to be appointed as needed by the judge. Ultimately I have found the best way to know whats going on with your fc's case is attend the court hearings. Hope this helps.

Becca

[LibbyHawkins]

Not sure what state you are in, but in Indiana(Indy - MArion County) they are required to visit every 60 days only.

[fostercareblogger]

I have been a foster parent for several years with a private agency. Yes, the Cps caseworker is suppose to see the child once a month. In my experience this doesn't always happen. I had two brothers that I fostered for over a year, the Cps caseworker came to my house twice (Once to drop off Christmas presents and she didn't even come inside the house.). The CASA worker I heard from somewhat but she never came to my home or visted the boys. As stated by someone else emailing for me is the best way to communicate with Cps. This will also give you a record what is said. If you want to know what is going on with the child's case, get involved with every court appointment, and go to all the meetings with cps (if you can't be there in person you can be there via telephone). In my experience my private agency caseworker was the last to get information, and mostly heard things from me. I learned to not get pushy with the caseworkers and they tend to be somewhat open. I have learned a lot of information when doing visits with the bio parents from the bio parents, case aide and the caseworker (when they come).
Visit the foster care blog at Foster Care Blog
Lanette

[FtWthHen]

The GAL is not legally REQUIRED to see the child at all if the child is under the age of four. The thinking is that the child is not verbal enough and is unable to talk with the GAL. Sad, but true. I know some three year olds who can talk your ear off though.......

The worker can give you the contact info for the GAL. Email and make reports to the GAL regularly, especially the week before a court hearing. Then they can show that they are up on the case and aware of what is going on. Be warned, they will not give you any credit for the info, but as long as your child's interests are being represented and you are making the GAL's life/job easier, then it's all to the good!

[TexasJingles]

Originally Posted by KT9

Another newbie here. What is a GAL and a CASA?

GAL is guardian ad lideum (sp?) which is the child's lawyer. I heard from our 3's GAL at the staffing phone call to change our fostering to an adoption placement. I actually met her after the adoption court, when everyone was giving hugs and congrats. However, we had all 3 of ours after TPR (termination of parental rights), so there wasn't a whole lot for the GAL to do anyways.

And CASA is ... well, I don't remember what it stands for but it's someone appointed by the court to be an independant source for the court. Like someone said, not every case gets a CASA. I don't think ours did as I never heard from anyone, nor did anyone ever mention one.

[unclederwood]

Thanks everyone for your help! My FS is 8 1/2 months old. I did find out that the next case hearing is in March. Mom is currently in prison until February and dad is not in the picture. By the time the next court hearing rolls around, our FS will have been in care for 6 months. He curently, does not have visits with anyone.

Our family casework told us that CPS does not have to allow us in the courtroom. Does anyone know anything about this?

[FtWthHen]

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. And no, CPS does not have to allow you in the courtroom. If the child has been with you for six months, you have "standing" and you might want to consult an attorney of your own. However, if mom is getting out of prison just one month before the hearing, her attorney may well argue that she hasn't had a chance to work her service plan and deserves a chance to prove herself. Being in prison is not sufficient grounds to have your parental rights terminated. So you may well be looking at an extension of six months. If that happens, don't panic. Starting over immediately after getting out of prison is tough. Time may well be on your side. Good luck!