REPORTING & INFORMATION SHARING; STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR FOSTER CHILDREN

The best outcomes for foster children occur when everyone involved in the child’s care and supervision works together using all of the tools available to them.

Too often problems in a child’s case are not identified and communicated effectively to the Juvenile Court or the responsible agencies. It is absolutely necessary that every party responsible for a dependant child’s well being communicate clearly and responsibly. Everyone involved should know how to use the legal tools and reporting tools available to them in order to effectively bring to light issues that must be addressed in order to assure the safety, security and success of every child in foster care.

Everyone involved has the responsibility to ensure accountability and work together to achieve the best outcome.

The Juvenile Court

The role of the Juvenile Court is critical for oversight of a foster child’s case. The County child welfare agencies are accountable to the Juvenile courts as they propose initial case dispositions and review hearing case dispositions. Foster Family Agencies are also accountable to the Juvenile Court.

California state law and Federal law allow and encourage caregivers to have Juvenile Court access and Juvenile Court reporting power. In California, we have an additional reporting opportunity which allows "any interested person" to request a change of court order under very specific circumstances.

Communicating with the court requires special court forms and protocol. If you are a caregiver and wish to report to the court at the time of a review hearing, see access to the court.

If you are not a party or a caregiver and you have concerns about a child in foster care and wish to communicate with the court, see Request Change of Court Order.

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County Child Welfare Agencies

County child welfare agencies are responsible for the day-to-day casework for foster children in California. County agencies must file reports and recommendations to the Juvenile Court at the time of disposition, review hearings, and permanency planning hearings.

Advokids encourages all foster child advocates to always report their concerns about a child in foster care to the county child welfare agency. Here are a few things you should know about reporting to the county welfare agency:

It is important to inform all professionals up the chain of command of your concerns. This allows the administrators and directors of the agency to be aware of your concerns and will encourage them to scrutinize the activities and decisions within their department.

Copies of all letters of concern written to the agency should also be sent to:

» Example of letter of concern (pdf)»

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Foster Family Agencies

Foster family agencies are also responsible for the day-to-day casework with foster children in California. They have a duty to file periodic reports with the Juvenile Court.

Welfare and Institutions Code Section 366.21 (d) requires that:

Prior to any hearing involving a child in the physical custody of a community care facility or a foster family agency that may result in the return of the child to the physical custody of his or her parent or legal guardian, or in adoption or the creation of a legal guardianship, the facility or agency shall file with the court a report, or a Judicial Council Caregiver Information Form (JV-290), containing its recommendation for disposition.

If you are an advocate with a concern about a foster child placed through a Foster Family Agency, be sure to send a letter of concern to the Foster Family Agency social worker, his/her supervisor and the director of the Foster Family Agency. Copies of all letters of concern written to the FFA should also be sent to all county social workers involved in the child’s case, the director of the county agency, the child’s attorney, county counsel, and the CASA, if one has been appointed.

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Attorneys

Attorneys charged with the duty of representing foster children in the dependency legal system have a tremendous responsibility. It is important for all child advocates to be familiar with Welfare and Institutions Code Section 317(e), and the state and county rules of court which set out the specific duties and obligations of minor’s counsel.

CALIFORNIA WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE § 317(e):

    The counsel for the child shall be charged in general with the representation of the child’s interests. To that end, the counsel shall make or cause to have made any further investigations that he or she deems in good faith to be reasonably necessary to ascertain the facts, including the interviewing of witnesses, and he or she shall examine and cross-examine witnesses in both the adjudicatory and dispositional hearings. He or she may also introduce and examine his or her own witnesses, make recommendations to the court concerning the child’s welfare, and participate further in the proceedings to the degree necessary to adequately represent the child. In any case in which the child is four years of age or older, counsel shall interview the child to determine the child's wishes and to assess the child’s well-being, and shall advise the court of the child’s wishes. Counsel for the child shall not advocate for the return of the child if, to the best of his or her knowledge, that return conflicts with the protection and safety of the child. In addition counsel shall investigate the interests of the child beyond the scope of the juvenile proceeding and report to the court other interests of the child that may need to be protected by the institution of other administrative or judicial proceedings. The attorney representing a child in a dependency proceeding is not required to assume the responsibilities of a social worker and is not expected to provide nonlegal services to the child. The court shall take whatever appropriate action is necessary to fully protect the interests of the child.

Attorneys representing children in dependency court are also held to "minimum standards of representation" under California Rules of Court Section 5.660.

Some counties also have "Local Rules of Court" requiring more specified duties of minor’s counsel. See list of counties below. If your county is listed in RED, there are no requirements or standards of representation in addition to Welfare and Institutions Code § 317(e), above, and California Rule of Court § 5.660.
Local Rules: Standards of Representation by County (pdf)

California Rule of Court §5.660 also requires a process for the review and resolution of complaints or questions by a party regarding the performance of an appointed attorney
California Rule of Court § 5.660

In some California counties, a complaint concerning the performance of an attorney appointed to represent a minor may be lodged on the child’s behalf by a caretaker relative, or a foster parent.

See link below to review "Local County Rules" where complaint procedures are broadened to allow non-parties to lodge a complaint on behalf of a child.
If your county is listed in RED, there are no local rules allowing "non-parties" to lodge a complaint on the minor’s behalf.
Local County Rules (Mb pdf)

If you are a relative caretaker or foster parent in one of the counties which allow "non-parties" to lodge a complaint and you would like to contact the presiding judge of your juvenile court to report a problem with the attorney representing the child in your care, download and fill out the Request for Assistance with Court Appointed Attorney form and send it to the juvenile court presiding judge in your county. You may also download a directory of mailing addresses for all juvenile court presiding judges in California.

— Need more information? Contact Advokids.