Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors ...

1 Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 (01/2019) This document is provided under a contractual agreement between the New York State Office of Children and Family Services Division of Administration Bureau of Training and Development AND Welfare Research, Inc. Acknowledgement This material was developed by Welfare Research, Inc. (WRI) under a training and administrative services agreement with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). We thank all of the individuals whose time and expertise went into developing this resource, especially John Stupp, retired Assistant Deputy Counsel from OCFS, a tireless resource to districts and agencies in providing child welfare legal consultation in bettering outcomes for New York s children and families.

2 Disclaimer While every effort has been made to provide accurate and complete information, the Office of Children and Family Services and the State of New York assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided herein and make no representations or warranties about the suitability of the information contained here for any purpose. All i nformation and documents are provided as is, without a warranty of any kind. Copyright 2019 by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Table of Contents Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 Chapter 1: Overview of Foster Care A. Roadmap of a typical Foster care case .. A-1 B. Who provides child welfare services? .. B-1 C. Structure of the New York State child welfare system .. C-1 Chapter 2: Entry into Foster Care A.

3 Removal of a child from the home ..A-1 B. Other court-ordered placements ..B-1 C. Determining eligibility for federal funding .. C-1 Chapter 3: Foster Care Proceedings in Family Court A. Overview ..A-1 B. Article 10 proceedings ..B-1 C. Permanency hearings .. C-1 D. Other proceedings .. D-1 E. Testifying in court ..E-1 Chapter 4: Foster Care Placement Options A. Factors that influence placement decisions ..A-1 B. Levels of care ..B-1 C. Identifying placement sources .. C-1 D. Other factors in placement decision-making .. D-1 E. Assessing the child s needs ..E-1 F. Documenting placement decisions .. F-1 Chapter 5: Kinship Foster Care A. Who can provide kinship care? ..A-1 B. Identifying and contacting potential kinship caregivers ..B-1 C. Kinship Foster home process .. C-1 D. Other types of kinship placement .. D-1 E.

4 Documenting work with kinship caregivers ..E-1 F. Resources for kinship caregivers .. F-1 Table of Contents Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 Chapter 6: Permanency Planning Options A. Types of permanency planning goals (PPGs) ..A-1 B. Concurrent planning ..B-1 C. Reasonable/diligent efforts to achieve permanency .. C-1 D. Discharge to adoption .. D-1 E. Other permanency options ..E-1 F. Involvement of children and youth in case planning .. F-1 Chapter 7: Foster Family Boarding Homes A. Types of Foster family boarding homes ( Foster homes) ..A-1 B. Who can be a Foster parent? ..B-1 C. Certification/approval process .. C-1 D. Reasonable and prudent parenting .. D-1 E. Payments to Foster parents ..E-1 F. Investigation of alleged abuse or maltreatment .. F-1 G. Removing a child from a Foster home.

5 G-1 H. Returning a child to a prior Foster home .. H-1 I. Closing a Foster home .. I-1 Chapter 8: Recruiting and Supporting Foster Families A. Recruiting Foster families ..A-1 B. Supporting Foster families ..B-1 Chapter 9: Residential Care Facilities A. Appropriateness of placement ..A-1 B. Types of residential facilities ..B-1 C. Conditions in residential care facilities .. C-1 D. Safety and well-being of children in residential care .. D-1 E. Justice Center ..E-1 F. Revoking, suspending, or limiting facility certificate .. F-1 Table of Contents Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 Chapter 10: Assessing the Safety of Children in Foster Care A. Casework contacts ..A-1 B. Maintaining privacy and confidentiality ..B-1 C. Ongoing safety assessments in Foster care settings.

6 C-1 D. Safety in the Foster home environment .. D-1 E. Additional safety assessments ..E-1 F. Children and youth absent without F-1 G. Sex trafficking .. G-1 Chapter 11: Services for Children in Foster Care A. Areas to consider when providing services ..A-1 B. Health care services ..B-1 C. Educational services .. C-1 D. Services related to developmental delays .. D-1 E. Services for older Chapter 12: Family Engagement and Services A. Family Assessment and Service Plan (FASP) ..A-1 B. Family Assessment Analysis ..B-1 C. Ongoing Service Plan for the family .. C-1 D. Service Plan Reviews (SPRs) .. D-1 E. Culturally competent services ..E-1 Chapter 13: Discharge from Foster Care A. Return home ..A-1 B. Discharge to relative (custody and guardianship) ..B-1 C. Discharge to adoption .. C-1 D. Youth transitioning out of Foster care.

7 D-1 E. Discharge of JD youth from OCFS custody ..E-1 F. Discharge to adult residential care .. F-1 G. Closing a case in CONNX .. G-1 Table of Contents Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 Chapter 14: Out-of-State Placements A. Requirements for ICPC placements ..A-1 B. Procedures for ICPC placements ..B-1 Chapter 15: Foster Care Eligibility and Financing A. Eligibility determinations ..A-1 Chapter 16: Special Circumstances A. Minor parents in Foster care ..A-1 B. Children of undocumented immigrants ..B-1 C. Re-homing of children .. C-1 Appendices Chapter 1: Overview Appendix 1-A: State Laws and Regulations Related to Foster Care .. 1 Appendix 1-B: Federal Legislation Related to Foster Care .. 4 Chapter 2: Entry into Foster Care Appendix 2-A: Consent for Temporary Placement of Child in Foster Care.

8 9 Appendix 2-B: Model Family Court Act Section 1023 Letter .. 10 Chapter 3: Foster Care Court Proceedings Appendix 3-A: Anatomy of a Permanency Hearing Order .. 11 Chapter 7: Foster Family Boarding Homes Appendix 7-A: Clearance Chart for Certified or Approved Foster Homes .. 13 Appendix 7-B: Youth Voice Questions .. 14 Appendix 7-C: Applying the Prudent Parent Standard .. 16 Appendix 7-D: Know Before You Say No .. 22 Appendix 7-E: Notice of Existence of Report .. 33 Chapter 9: Residential Care Facilities Appendix 9-A: Justice Center Mandated Reporters .. 34 Appendix 9-B: Social Services Law 488(1) .. 35 Table of Contents Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 Chapter 10: Assessing the Safety of Children in Foster Care Appendix 10-A: Protecting Confidential Information.

9 38 Chapter 12: Family Engagement and Services Appendix 12-A: Strengths, Needs and Risks Scales .. 39 Appendix 12-B: Categories of Family Strengths .. 40 Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 Online Resources The text of New York State laws, including Social Services Law and the Family Court Act, can be found at: Click on Laws. Then click on SOS for Social Services Law (SSL) or FCT for the Family Court Act (FCA). The text of New York State Codes, Rules and Regulations can be accessed at: Click on View the unofficial NYCRR. Regulations associated with child welfare are in Title 18, Chapter II, Subchapter C. Access to child protective services forms used by the New York State Office of Court Administration can be found at: OCFS policy directives, including Administrative Directives (ADM), Information Letters (INF) and Local Commissioners Memorandums (LCM) are organized by year at: References and links In this Guide , references to laws and regulations are highlighted but do not have links.

10 Use the links above to locate the exact text. Links are underlined and will connect you to policy directives and other online sources of information. Bold links will navigate you to chapters, sections, and appendices within this Practice Guide . Introduction Page | i Foster Care Practice Guide for Caseworkers and Supervisors January 2019 The purpose of this Practice Guide This Guide is designed to support you in your Practice as a Foster care caseworker or supervisor . It is a resource that can be used by those who are new to this area of child welfare, as well as by those with years of experience. Here you will find the relevant laws, regulations, and policy and Practice guidance that govern how Foster care is provided in New York State. In addition, this Guide is designed to give you the information you need to be successful in your interactions with children, their birth families, Foster parents, and other child welfare and legal professionals.