Determination: At the completion of the investigation, ACS decides whether the allegations in the report are "indicated" if ACS determines, by a fair preponderance of the evidence, that the allegations are true, or ACS decides that a report is "unfounded" when there is not a fair preponderance of the evidence. After disposition, the agency and ACS may determine that the safety issues that brought the child into foster care have been sufficiently addressed that it is in the best interests of the child to return home on a trial basis with ongoing support and supervision by the agency. Even though the agency may be excused from making efforts to assist you, you can also take steps on your own to address the issues that led to your child's placement in foster care if you wish to plan for your child's return. A group home is a family-type home for seven to 12 children. If you have any questions about your case, contact your lawyer. A group residence is a structured facility for children (over age 10) requiring more intensive supervision. We recognize and respect parents' rights, as well as their bonds with and love for their children. You can call the intake number at the ACS Children's Center (646) 935-1411, which is available 24-7 to request information about your child's placement, including whether your child is still at the Children's Center. When children come into foster care, ACS tries to place children with relatives or family friends as foster parents. For example, the parent may request that a specific person adopts the child. The case planner also supervises the foster home. You feel it would be best for your child to remain with that person permanently. Imminent Risk: When the risk of harm to a child is near or impending. WebPARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016-2017 . If it is safe to do so and allowed by the court, your case planner will help arrange longer and more frequent visits with your child and decrease the level of supervision required. Serve the petition on the mother. During the investigation, if CPS determines your child is not in immediate danger, the CPS may offer prevention services to help you address the issues you may be facing so that your child can remain safely at home. Where to go for additional resources and information. The agency will take your availability and schedule into consideration when scheduling the conference. Foster care agency case planners will need to make arrangements for visits. If you want custody of your child, you can file a petition in Family Court. They can make important decisions about the child's health, education, and everyday activities without intervention from ACS or provider agency staff. Case planner: A foster care agency staff member who determines the need for services and makes referrals to services. Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). WebMary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy is an exciting educational option for students in grades 6-9 who are experiencing barriers to learning in the traditional classroom setting. WebSTUDENT HANDBOOK 2019 - 2020 . Once a child goes into foster care, ACS and its contracted foster care providers are responsible for the care and custody of the child for the length of time that the Family Court determines. Request that your child be placed in a setting that can reflect and respond to your child's specific culture, religion, and background. If you are the legal parent of the child, you have the right to be notified by ACS once a petition is filed regarding your child. A variety of conferences (meetings) will take place while your child is in foster care. Attend school meetings and agree to the Individual Educational Plan (IEP), if this applies for your child. Incarcerated parents with child protective involvement or children in foster care should also maintain contact with their lawyers. Home Instruction Note: If ACS determined that there was imminent risk to your child, this meeting may be held after your child has been removed, and is often referred to as a Post-Removal Conference. ACS and the foster care agencies often hire or contract with Parent Advocates to provide support to parents, particularly at family team conferences. Brooklyn Defender Services / Family Defense Practice, Center for Family Representation (Lower Manhattan and Queens), Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem (Upper Manhattan), Richmond County Assigned Counsel Panel (Staten Island), NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Office of Advocacy, Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT). The case planner is responsible for arranging these conferences and notifying parents of all conferences regarding their case. During trial discharge, you are still under the supervision of the agency and ACS, and you will continue to have home visits from your case planner and will continue with services for you and your child. Without one of these documents, you have no automatic legal right to visit your child or participate in permanency planning, and you may not automatically have a say about whether your child is adopted. Life Transition Series - A series of workshops that will assist families and educators with the process of transitioning from school into adult life. If you cannot attend a court proceeding, you should contact your attorney. Your case planner will help you connect to services, and also schedule visits between you and your child, or between siblings. It is rare and difficult to reverse a Termination of Parental Rights finalized by the court. The child welfare system includes three main components: child protection; prevention services; and foster care. Termination of Parental Rights (TPR): A type of proceeding begun by the filing of a petition by the agency or ACS that is meant to end the legal relationship between parent and child. Notice of Temporary Removal of Child(ren) and Right to Hearing Form: At the time of removal, the CPS must provide written notice to the parent of the right to apply to the Family Court for the return of the child; the addresses of the Family Court where the case will be heard; the name and contact information of the CPS and the agency the child will be taken to; and the contact information of the person to be contacted for visits with the child. To be consulted about and provide permission for children to attend vacations with the child's foster family. In addition, ACS, your attorney, the attorney for your children, and attorneys for other parties may make an agreement that the issues that brought your child into foster care have been resolved, and that your child can be safe at home. This means that when your child is in foster care, you must contact your case planner as soon as possible and begin planning for your child. Parents also have the right to the name, title, address, and telephone number of the CPS who removed your child and the name of their supervisor. ACS will work with you to identify the service provider that best meets your family's needs and can facilitate the referral. It is helpful for you to notify the agency immediately if you become pregnant so that the agency can begin working with you to put a plan and services in place to help you care for the newborn safely. If an incarcerated parent has any questions about their child, or what actions to take, they should contact their lawyer, case planner, correctional counselor, or the ACS Office of Advocacy (call collect at 212-619-1309). In such a case, the receiving state must investigate and approve the home of the relative or prospective foster parent and assume responsibility for monitoring the child in that home. Keep your child's best interests at heart and prioritize your child's medical, emotional, and educational needs in all situations. WebParent Handbook - A Guide for Parents with Children in Foster Care (PDF) The goal of the NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) is to keep children safe and families supported. Your consent to your child's medication is required, except in limited circumstances. Receive timely notification of and invitations from the Family Court to attend any Family Court hearing about your child or about your parental rights. ACS and the agency can recommend to the court that your child be returned. Handbook Parents have the right to be consulted before any out of state travel. WebCheck our Parent Handbook for general information about AACPS, including: Grading Information 2125 | Graduation Requirements 43 The Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form 46 The AACPS Parent Handbook is available online at www.aacps.org/ParentHandbook. Nurture your child while you are getting the services you need. ACS will need to file a neglect or abuse petition in Family Court and the removal decision will be subject to court review and the decision will be made by a Judge. The judge makes most decisions after a hearing where you are heard and represented. There are several important resources to help parents when their child or children are in foster care. The case planner will also provide you with regular updates on your child, including as it relates to medical and school appointments. If you are expecting a new baby and share that news with the foster care agency, your case planner has an obligation to work with you throughout your pregnancy to help you plan to safely care for your newborn. Receive medical, mental health, and educational updates on your child from the foster care agency case planner. When reunification is the permanency goal, and if it is in the best interests of the child, the agency expects that your visits increase and become longer over time. Help you and your child visit and contact each other consistently and frequently. The judge will determine if it is safe for the child to return home while the case is ongoing in court. Rapid Intervention Center (RIC): Also called Diagnostic Reception Center (DRC) A RIC provides intensive structure and evaluation services to children in need. WebSTUDENT HANDBOOK 2019 - 2020 . Make decisions about your child's medical and mental health care and education. The relative will have the right to make parental decisions about your child. These visits may be scheduled and unannounced. Support and networking among parents can be provided through the Friends of Early Childhood Intervention, an entity founded in 2008 to assist parents of children in the Birth to Five age range. Note: If there is already any kind of proceeding in Court involving your child, you should seek the advice of a lawyer and notify the Court that you want to participate. Hear from you about your child's preferences, what they enjoy, challenges, etc. Case planners are required to help incarcerated parents plan for reunification with their children, when safe to do so. If children are already placed with a foster care agency (i.e., the children are not at the Children's Center or the Youth Reception Centers), ACS staff answering the intake number will provide the parent with the name and phone number for the foster care contact person. Handbook Ask to reschedule your Family Team Conference in advance if you are unable to attend. Kinship Foster Care: Foster care placement of a child with a relative, godparent or close friend. Before changing a child's goal, the agency will hold a goal change conference. In consultation with your lawyer, you should participate in Family Court hearings and do what the court asks you to do, which will help facilitate your child returning home. Fathers listed on the registry have the right to receive legal notice of all court proceedings, which include foster care, guardianship, custody, or adoption of the child. Even when you have not proven you are the father, you may seek permission to have visits and participate in permanency planning if it is in the best interests of the child to have contact. In RIC, children undergo physical, psychological, and educational evaluations to decide what placement setting and services best suit their needs. Complete the items mentioned above in specific time frames. Terminating your parental rights is not required. 2 Lucketts Elementary School 14550 James Monroe Highway Leesburg, VA 20176 Dear Parents and Students, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the start of the 2016-2017 school year. You have a right to speak to a lawyer at any time during a CPS investigation and while your child is in foster care. School Age Child Care. You will be invited to attend a pre-birth planning conference, during which the agency will discuss your service plan and any barriers to safely caring for your newborn after birth. ACS and the agency will prioritize keeping your child in their school of origin and will make necessary accommodations to do so, including organizing and paying for transportation costs. ACS and the foster care agency will schedule a Final Discharge Conference and invite all those who were invited to the Trial Discharge Conference. You do not address problems that caused your child to come into care. Residences can house up to 25 children. For those who cannot return home safely, ACS pursues kinship guardianship, adoption, or custody. All foster parents are required to participate in trainings provided by the foster care agency, pass criminal and child abuse and neglect background checks, ensure family visits, and provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children in their home. If you have any questions about any of the hearings, you should contact your lawyer. You can invite your attorney or the social worker or parent advocate working with your attorney to attend the conference. When your baby is born, your case planner will notify the court of a new child in the family. This could include services for your family, but ACS may also decide that your child needs to come into foster care or other out-of-home placement. If you need assistance related to reasonable accommodations or grievance you may contact the ACS ADA Coordinator by emailing eeo.adacoordinator@acs.nyc.gov. Your Lawyer - You should speak with your lawyer regularly and keep him or her informed about the services you are receiving and any concerns you have. They are available through community-based organizations in communities. While the law requires ACS and the agency to file a termination petition if a child has been in foster care for 15 of the past 22 months, there are also many exceptions to this requirement. If you cannot attend a visit, you must cancel it as much in advance as possible or call to reschedule. If there is a medical emergency related to your child, your case planner will notify you immediately. You can ask your worker about increasing your visits. The foster care agency will apply for a discharge grant if your child is eligible. Provide support to help you stay active and involved in your child's life. Your CPS worker can arrange for you to visit with your child even while your child is still at the Children's Center. Open Adoption: An adoption in which the adoptive parent and birth parent agree that the birth parent will continue to have contact with the child. Incarcerated parents have a right to participate in the court process. Foster Parent: This is the person with whom a child in foster care lives. Always get advice from a lawyer before signing a surrender agreement. This includes the parents, child, and foster parents. This means the adult has the legal right and responsibility to take care of the child and the authority to make major decisions regarding the child. You must work with them to plan a visiting schedule and arrange activities for you and your child to do during each visit. Your case planner is required to provide you with regular updates on your child's health, mental health, development, behavior, and progress in school. Student Handbook We take this responsibility very seriously and understand that child protective investigations can be an intrusive, stressful process. It is important that you give the agency your current address, so the agency can keep you informed about important events about your case. Copyright 2022 Finalsite - all rights reserved. Children in foster care are typically temporarily cared for by a relative or non-relative foster parent under the supervision of a foster care agency contracted by ACS. This could happen even if you are not the person under investigation. Parents receiving Human Resources Administration (HRA) cash assistance may have their budgets adjusted while their child is in foster care. KinGAP provides the opportunity for your child to leave foster care. Fact-Finding: A court proceeding in which the judge hears testimony and considers other evidence in the case. Agencies are responsible for connecting you to services so that your child can return home safely. In an adoption, the court gives permanent legal responsibility for a child to other people who then become the child's parents. HOW MUCH DO BREAKFAST ANDLUNCH COST? If you do not comply with all Family Court orders, ACS requirements, and agency requirements while your child is in foster care, ACS or the agency may ask the Family Court to permanently terminate your parental rights to your child so that the child may be adopted. This review can take several weeks. The agency will ask you if you were married when your child was born; if you have an order showing you have adopted the child; or if you have a signed Acknowledgment of Paternity. The parents' participation in the services. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will assign you one free of charge. Have your children placed with relatives, close family friends (kinship) whenever possible. Quickly receive services that support the goal to return your child home. The Family Court is not open on the weekends, so if an emergency removal takes place on a Friday evening or Saturday, you will not be able to contest the removal in court until the next court day. WHO HAS ACCESS TO MY CHILDS RECORDS? National studies affirm that the interest and involvement of parents in their children's education are the most important predictors of success for a child. Frequent and ongoing contact with you and siblings (if separated) helps your child in these ways: You have the right to visit and to contact your child through phone calls and letters while he or she is in foster care, unless the Family Court has said you cannot. To learn how to establish that you are the legal father of your child, or how to seek to visit your child or participate in permanency planning, you should seek the advice of a lawyer. You should keep a record of all contacts with your child and your case planner. You should always go to court when you receive a legal notice or phone call saying there will be a hearing about your child and arrive on time. CAN I FOLLOW MY This Parent Handbook has been specifically designed for you- a parent whose child is in foster care. If you cannot attend a scheduled conference, you should let your case planner and lawyer know, and ask that the meeting be rescheduled. You should also contact your lawyer. You feel that ACS or the agency are not providing you with information about your child. These people can include your child's foster parent, your foster care agency case planner and their supervisor, an attorney, advocate or social worker from your lawyer's office, supportive community members, a parent advocate from your agency, and anyone you would like to invite to support you. Parent Receive notification as soon as possible of any serious medical emergency or if your child receives any medical treatment. The judge can hold a hearing and/or can order that your child be returned to you at any stage of the child protective proceeding/court process. Family Team Conferences bring together people who work with and care about your family. Any time you have a question, you should ask either your attorney or caseworker. If you don't visit and maintain contact with your child, ACS, the foster care agency, and the Family Court judge might view your behavior as a lack of interest. Publication. In some instances, based on a youth's particular needs, a teenager may be placed in a congregate care/residential care(group) setting that is operated by a foster care agency. Web2022-2023 SACC/MSTG Parent's Manual. Parents are responsible for making sure their child is cared for while they are in jail or prison. In this case, the agency may seek a court order to stop or limit your visits. If you plan to reunite with your child after your release from prison, you must: The agency is obligated to a provide a parent who is incarcerated with updated information about their children, to help them engage in any services available, and to include them in any and all meetings (educational, medical, case planning) for their children should be mentioned.

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