Usually a foster care caseworker is assigned to a new case within two to four weeks of a child or children entering the foster care system. Siblings entering foster care would normally have the same foster care caseworker. By the time a caseworker is assigned to the case, the children have already been in a foster care home for two to four weeks. Hopefully, it is the same home that child protective services (CPS) placed them in the day they were removed, but it isn’t always. Since the children are settling into their new home, the worker doesn’t usually move the children to a different placement. That is unless, the foster home request that the children be moved, a suitable relative is located for placement, or other determining circumstances are known.
The worker is responsible for making sure the placement is suitable. One way the worker does this is by having face-to-face visits with the foster child at least once a month. If the child needs to move then the caseworker is responsible for moving the child to another placement. The worker should provide the caregiver with medical, dental, and educational information pertaining to the foster child when it is known or becomes known.
The assigned worker will make needed service referrals as outlined in the service plan to provide for family reunification. This could be counseling, parenting classes, random drug screens, and visitation for examples. The worker needs to make contact with the parents at least monthly and monitor their progress towards their goals. Progress of the parents and children towards their goals must be reported to the court as required in written reports completed by the caseworker.
The foster care worker will ensure weekly visits are maintained for parenting time unless otherwise ordered by the court. The worker will provide the parents with medical, dental, and educational information about their children. When appropriate, the worker will include the parents in scheduled appointments such as individual education plans, physicals, and dental exams.
The worker may also be responsible for entering payment information to ensure that the foster parents are compensated for room and board. If a difficulty of care is warranted then the worker would be expected to document the necessity and complete the paperwork. The worker may also need to activate Medicaid for the foster child. Providing transportation to and from visits is ultimately the workers responsibility although foster parents are expected to assist in transportation.
The Permanency Planning Meeting for Your Foster Child
The Adjudication Hearing Placing a Child in Foster Care
The Review Hearing for Your Foster Child
The Parents’ Reunification Goals When Their Children Are in Foster Care
Foster Child Goals for Reunification
Photo Credit: 2007 Julia Fuller.
