At the time a child is placed with you, you have the right to have--and the professional obligation to find out--information which will enable you to do the best possible job. You need specific information in order to fulfill your role as:
- Substitute parent
- Formal member of the treatment team
- Primary treatment provider for the child
- Role model and teacher for the biological parent(s)
- Facilitator of visitations
- Advocate for the child
- Why is the child being placed?
- What is the child's legal status?
- Does the child have any behavior problems, unusual habits, etc.?
- Does the child have any siblings? Where do they reside? What is the visitation plan? Why are the siblings not placed together?
- What is the plan for visitation with parents, others?
- Has the child been in foster care before? What is the placement history?
- Does the child have a Medicaid card?
- Who is the child's pediatrician or doctor? Dentist?
- When was the child's last physical?
- Does the child have any allergies?
- Is the child taking any medication?
- Are there sufficient clothes? If not, when can an initial clothing allowance be authorized?
- What are the agency's expectations of your family?
- What is the child's educational background and record?
- Who is the child's law guardian?
- What is the date of the child's Service Plan Review Conference?
NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc.
410 East Upland Road • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-0034 • fax 607-272-0035
office@nysccc.org
rev. 3/20/02