Foster care is 24-hour care provided by the child welfare system for children who need to move out of their own homes temporarily. If your child moves into foster care, he/she may live in one or more different types of placements, such as the following:

• default_titleKinship care (placement with relatives)
• default_titleEmergency shelter
• default_titleFoster family home
• default_titleTherapeutic foster home
• default_titleGroup home
• default_titleResidential treatment center, or
• default_titleIndependent living arrangement for older youth
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Here are several possible reasons:

• default_titleIf the court determines that your child was abused or neglected in your home by a parent or caregiver, it may transfer custody to the child welfare agency so that your child can live somewhere else. Generally, placement in foster care is temporary and intended to give you time to make the changes necessary for your child to live safely in your own home.
• default_titleIn some states, you might decide to place your child in foster care through a short term, voluntary agreement with the child welfare agency. You might do this for a specific reason, for example, if you entered inpatient hospital care for a short period and had no one who could care for your child during that time.
• default_titleIf your child has a very serious emotional disturbance or a disability, you might turn to the child welfare system to provide and fund the services your child needs. This happens sometimes when parents have exhausted all possible community-based services that they can afford, and they cannot find or pay for intensive treatment services for their child. Several states have found ways to help children get intensive treatment services without involving the child welfare agency.
• default_titleIf you or someone else thinks that your child’s behavior is beyond your control, the court can be petitioned to order services for your child and family. Examples of out-of-control behavior include running away, refusing to go to school, and serious substance abuse problems. Some states allow placement in foster care for these reasons. The terms that are used to describe children and youth who fall into this category are different in different states. Examples of such terms are Children in Need of Services (CHINS) or Children in Need of Assistance (CINA).
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It is important to know that federal and state laws set three main goals for children who are in the child welfare system.

• default_titleSafety
• default_titlePermanency
• default_titleWell-being
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“Safety” means that your child must be protected from abuse and neglect. Ensuring your child’s safety will be the most important goal. Federal law requires child welfare agencies and courts to think about child safety when they make decisions about where your child will live (for example, in your home or with a relative). They also think about your child’s safety when they decide what services to provide for your family. Safety is an issue even when a child lives in a foster or adoptive home. Federal law requires the child welfare agency to do a criminal background check on anyone who applies to be a foster or adoptive parent. Most state laws also require this type of check. In addition, child welfare agencies do an intensive study of everyone who applies to become a foster or adoptive family.

Either the child welfare agency or the court will determine where your child will be placed when she moves into foster care. Federal child welfare law requires the court or child welfare agency to find out first if your child can live safely with a relative. You can suggest a relative or close friend who might be able to care for your child. Placement with a relative is often called kinship care. If placement with a relative is not possible, your child will likely go to a family foster home or a temporary children’s shelter. In some places, the first placement for a child may be a short-term group residence. In other places, children go directly to the foster family who will care for them until they can return home. Agencies usually try to place children as close to their own homes and communities as possible. If your child has very intensive treatment needs, a family foster home or a kinship home might not be able to care for him. If this is the case, your child could be placed immediately in a place where his needs will be met. This could be a therapeutic foster home, a residential treatment center, or some type of medical placement.

If more than one of your children is being placed in foster care, the agency should place them together. Sometimes this is not possible for a variety of reasons. For example, there might not be a foster home large enough to care for all of your children. Or one of your children might need to be placed separately where she can get special treatment.

If you have relatives or very close friends who can provide a safe home for your child, be sure to tell the agency worker about them as early as possible. Even if your relatives live out of state, it is still possible for them to be considered. If you believe it is important for your children to be placed together, explain why and ask the agency worker to try to make this happen.

• default_titleThey might be a relative (kinship care) or a close friend. This can happen if you have suggested it, and the relative and the agency and/or court agree that it is a good plan and a safe placement for your child.
• default_titleThey might be a foster family that you may not know. All foster parents must meet certain standards set by the state to help ensure that children will be safe and cared for. Most foster parents have been trained to understand the special needs of children who live away from their families.
• default_titleThey might be staff who works in a group or residential setting. Group care facilities must be licensed, and staff must meet standards set by the state.
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There are five main types of hearings. These hearings are held in the civil court that handles family matters, usually a juvenile court or a family court. They are not held in criminal court. Each has a different purpose and is held at different times. Each state might use different names than the ones listed below to describe these hearings. Each state also might schedule hearings sooner than federal laws require. The five hearings are as follows:

• default_titleAdjudicatory Hearing
• default_titleDispositional Hearing
• default_titleReview Hearing
• default_titlePermanency Hearing
• default_titleTermination Hearing
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The state agencies listed below have been asked to sign a required agreement to better meet the needs of children in foster care. The School District approved the Interagency Agreement (Children in DCF Care) which includes:

• default_titleThe School District of Palm Beach County
• default_titleAgency for Persons with Disabilities, State of Florida, Area 9
• default_titleDepartment of Children and Families (DCF), Circuit 15
• default_titleFlorida Department of Juvenile Justice, Circuit IS
• default_titleChild & Family Connections (CFC)
• default_titleWorkforce Alliance
• default_titleEarly Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County
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The Agreement coordinates responsibilities for furnishing educational and vocational services and supports for children known to DCF. These children include those being served through CFC, the lead agency, while remaining in their own homes and those who have been placed with a foster family or boarding home, group home, and/or child care institution.

Each youth under state supervision is provided with a Dependency Case Manager (DCM) who, according to the Agreement, will:

• default_titleAssist with school registration and update schools of subsequent DCM changes
• default_titleObtain consent forms or court order releases to receive student records
• default_titleAttend any school-based educational meetings (i.e., School Based Team) to support academic success.
• default_title802 students in the District were identified and served in the 2011-2012 school year.
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DCF has generated a state-wide School Registration Information Form (often referred to as the "Salmon Form" because hard copies are printed on salmon colored paper) that will provide school personnel with crucial contact information, special student needs, and court order status, as well as a list of the adults authorized to pick up the student from school.

The school staff listed below will receive a list of foster care youth to help them assist these students:

• default_titleAssistant Principals (regarding discipline)
• default_titleSchool Based Team leaders (with a School Based Team Initial Referral)
• default_titleESE Coordinators (when applicable)
• default_titleGuidance Counselors
• default_titleSchool Food Service Managers (to verify free lunch enrollment)
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For more information contact the School District Foster Care Liaison, Laura Shoemaker, Student Intervention Services, Laura.Shoemaker@palmbeachschools.org or call (561) 494-1449