Being a foster parent is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be very emotionally taxing. You are called upon to take in a child and provide proper care for that child, ensure that they attend all recommended or required services, and support the permanency goal set by the Court. That can be very difficult, depending on the circumstances of the child coming into care. With so many related foster parents, your job is complicated by the family or quasi-family relationship you share with the biological parents of the child. At various points, the assistance of counsel can be beneficial.
For example, if you believe that the child would benefit from certain services, but the caseworker is refusing to explore the need for those services, communication with supervisors or filing a request for a clinical review or even a service appeal might be appropriate, and an effective way of advocating for that child. Another example would be if you are being harassed by the biological parents or individuals associated with them. If the State's Attorney and agency are non-responsive to your requests for further action to address that harassment, it might be appropriate to seek an order of protection independently, to protect your safety and the safety of the child. A final example is if you seek a determination that the child's case is classified as specialized foster care, based upon the level of the child's needs or the number of services needed, you may find it helpful to have the assistance of counsel in getting that accomplished or appealing a determination that no change in status is needed. If there is a placement change being sought, you have some options that depend on how long you've had the child in your care. If you've had the child in your care for less than 1 year, you can file a service appeal to try and stop the change in placement. If you've had the child in your care for more than 1 year, you can still file a service appeal, but you can also intervene in the Court case and seek an order to prevent the change in placement.
In short, if as a foster parent you are unhappy with the actions of DCFS or its partner agencies, it can often be beneficial to talk with an experienced and knowledgable attorney to find out your options on fighting for what you believe is in the child's best interest. Contact us online or by calling .