Section 340.40 Foster Parent Rights

Section 340

Section 340.40  Foster Parent

Rights

a)

A

foster parent's rights include, but are not limited to, the following

:

1)

The right to be treated with dignity, respect, and

consideration as a professional member of the child welfare team.

2)

The right to be given standardized pre-service training and

appropriate ongoing training to meet mutually assessed needs and improve the

foster parent's skills.

3)

The right to be informed as to how to contact the

appropriate child placement agency in order to receive information and

assistance to access supportive services for children in the foster parent's

care.

4)

The right to receive timely financial reimbursement

commensurate with the care needs of the child as specified in the service plan.

5)

The right to be provided a clear, written understanding of

a placement agency's plan concerning the placement of a child in the foster

parent's home.  Inherent in this right is the foster parent's responsibility to

support activities that will promote the child's right to relationships with

his or her own family and cultural heritage.

6)

The right to be provided a fair, timely, and impartial

investigation of complaints concerning the foster parent's licensure, to be

provided the opportunity to have a person of the foster parent's choosing

present during the investigation, and to be provided due process during the

investigation; the right to be provided the opportunity to request and receive

mediation or an administrative review of decisions that affect licensing

parameters, or both mediation and an administrative review; and the right to

have decisions concerning a licensing corrective action plan specifically

explained and tied to the licensing standards violated.

7)

The right, at any time during which a child is placed with

the foster parent, to receive additional or necessary information that is relative

to the care of the child

t affect licensing

parameters, or both mediation and an administrative review; and the right to

have decisions concerning a licensing corrective action plan specifically

explained and tied to the licensing standards violated.

7)

The right, at any time during which a child is placed with

the foster parent, to receive additional or necessary information that is relative

to the care of the child.

8)

The

right to be given information concerning a child from the Department, as

required under Section 5(u) of the Children and Family Services Act, and from a

child welfare agency, as required under Section 7.4 (c-5) of the Child Care Act

of 1969.

[20 ILCS 520/1-15]

A)        At the

time the caseworker places a child with a foster parent or prospective adoptive

parent, or prior to placement of the child, whenever possible, the worker shall

provide available information in writing (except as provided in subsection

(a)(8)(B)) about the child necessary for the proper care of the child to the

foster parent or prospective adoptive parent.  The information to be provided

to the caregiver shall include:

i)          The

medical history of the child, including known medical problems or communicable

diseases, information concerning the immunization status of the child, and

insurance and medical card information;

ii)         The

educational history of the child, including any special educational needs and

details of the child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individual Family

Service Plan (IFSP) when the child is receiving special education services, or

504 Educational Special Needs Plan, if applicable;

iii)        A

copy of the child's portion of the client service plan, including any

visitation arrangements and all amendments or revisions; case history of the

child, including how the child came into care; the child's legal status; the

permanency goal for the child; a history of the child's previous placements;

and reasons for placement changes, excluding information that identifies or

reveals the l

A

copy of the child's portion of the client service plan, including any

visitation arrangements and all amendments or revisions; case history of the

child, including how the child came into care; the child's legal status; the

permanency goal for the child; a history of the child's previous placements;

and reasons for placement changes, excluding information that identifies or

reveals the location of any previous foster or relative home caregiver; and

iv)        Other

relevant background information of the child, including any prior criminal

history; information about any behavior problems, including fire setting,

perpetration of sexual abuse, destructive behavior and substance abuse habits;

likes and dislikes; etc.

B)        In the

case of an emergency placement, when all of the information referenced in

subsection (a)(8)(A) is not available, the worker shall provide known

information verbally as it becomes available and subsequently provide this

information in writing.

C)        In

advance of placement, the caseworker may provide the foster parent or adoptive

parent with a written summary of the information listed in subsection (a)(8)(A).

D)        Within

10 working days after the placement, the worker shall obtain from the

prospective adoptive parent, foster parent or other caregiver signed

verification of receipt of the information described in subsection (a)(8)(A)

and forward a copy of the information to the child's guardian ad litem.

E)        Supervisory

review and approval is required prior to providing any information to the

foster parent or prospective adoptive parent

nt, the worker shall obtain from the

prospective adoptive parent, foster parent or other caregiver signed

verification of receipt of the information described in subsection (a)(8)(A)

and forward a copy of the information to the child's guardian ad litem.

E)        Supervisory

review and approval is required prior to providing any information to the

foster parent or prospective adoptive parent.

9)

The right to be notified of scheduled meetings and

staffings concerning the foster child in order to actively participate in the

case planning and decision-making process regarding the child, including

individual service planning meetings, administrative case reviews,

interdisciplinary staffings, and individual educational planning meetings; the

right to be informed of decisions made by the courts or the child welfare

agency concerning the child; the right to provide input concerning the plan of

services for the child and to have that input given full consideration in the

same manner as information presented by any other professional on the team; and

the right to communicate with other professionals who work with the foster

child within the context of the team, including therapists, physicians, and

teachers.

10)

The right to be given, in a timely and consistent manner,

any information a case worker has regarding the child and the child's family

which is pertinent to the care and needs of the child and to the making of a

permanency plan for the child.  Disclosure of information concerning the

child's family shall be limited to that information that is essential for

understanding the needs of and providing care to the child in order to protect

the rights of the child's family.  When a positive relationship exists between

the foster parent and the child's family, the child's family may consent to

disclosure of additional information

e child.  Disclosure of information concerning the

child's family shall be limited to that information that is essential for

understanding the needs of and providing care to the child in order to protect

the rights of the child's family.  When a positive relationship exists between

the foster parent and the child's family, the child's family may consent to

disclosure of additional information.

11)

The right to be given reasonable written notice of any

change in a child's case plan, plans to terminate the placement of the child

with the foster parent, and the reasons for the change or termination in

placement.  The notice shall be waived only in cases of a court order or when a

child is determined to be at imminent risk of harm.

12)

The right to be notified in a timely and complete manner of

all court hearings, including notice of the date and time of the court hearing,

the name of the judge or hearing officer hearing the case, the location of the

hearing, and the court docket number of the case; and the right to intervene in

court proceedings or to seek mandamus under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

13)

The right to be considered as a placement option when a

foster child who was formerly placed with the foster parent is to be re-entered

into foster care, if that placement is consistent with the best interest of the

child and other children in the foster parent's home.

14)

The right to have timely access to the child placement

agency's existing appeals process and the right to be free from acts of

harassment and retaliation by any other party when exercising the right to

appeal

laced with the foster parent is to be re-entered

into foster care, if that placement is consistent with the best interest of the

child and other children in the foster parent's home.

14)

The right to have timely access to the child placement

agency's existing appeals process and the right to be free from acts of

harassment and retaliation by any other party when exercising the right to

appeal.

15)

The right to be informed of the Foster Parent Hotline

established under Section 35.6 of the Children and Family Services Act and all

of the rights accorded to foster parents concerning reports of misconduct by

Department employees, service providers, or contractors, confidential handling

of those reports, and investigation by the Inspector General appointed under

Section 35.5 of the Children and Family Services Act.

[20 ILCS 520/1-15]

b)         Implementation of these rights shall be explained in

narrative form in the annual implementation plans described in Appendix A.