1. NAME OF PROGRAM: Foster Care

2. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: The primary goal of foster care is to provide a safe, temporary place for children to live until they can be in a permanent home. Children of any age, up to 18 years old, may be placed in foster care.

3. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: This program is for children that have been abused, neglected, and/or children that fall under the dependency definition, and reasonable efforts either have been exhausted or not considered an option due to child safety issues. The social worker's assessment is the trigger in this process.

4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: The eligibility requirements include:

1. If children are removed from their home by DSS it is because a juvenile court judge and a social worker thought the children were not safe at home. DSS petitions the court for the removal of the children from their home at which time a judge issues an order for the children to be removed.
   
   
2. Children are removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect and dependency.
   
   
1. Abuse: When children are abused, they have been seriously hurt, either physically or emotionally. This may include any type of sexual abuse. The parent, or someone else taking care of the children, either hurt the children or allowed them to be hurt.
2. Neglect: When children are neglected, they have not received proper care or supervision. This may include children who do not receive necessary medical attention, who are inadequately fed or clothed or who are inappropriately disciplined. Children who are left alone for long periods of time can be considered neglected if they are living in a dangerous environment where drugs are being used. Neglect is the reason most children are removed from their homes.
3. Dependency: When children are dependent, they have no adult who is able to take care of them. Dependency usually occurs when a parent dies, is sick or cannot meet the needs of the child for some other reason.

5. OTHER PROGRAM DETAILS: The other program details include:

1. Different Kinds of Foster Care:



1. Kinship Care: This is when a relative can take care of the children. The court may allow the children to live with their aunt, uncle, grandparents or another relative if an approved home study has been completed by DSS.
2. Emergency Foster Care: When DSS takes custody of children they may spend a short time in emergency foster care. This may be a family home or a group home. The children can stay in these homes only for a short time.
3. Family Foster Care: In this case, the children will be taken care of by a family trained and licensed to take care of children who have been separated from their own parents.
4. Group Homes/Residential Facilities: Some children will be placed in group homes or residential facilities, depending on what best suits their needs. Here the children will be taken care of by house parents or residential child care workers. The children may attend a school at the facility.
   
   
2. Length of Foster Care:
   
   
1. Regardless of the type of placement the children receive, foster care is intended to be temporary. Foster care is not designed to be a permanent plan for children. If it is impossible for the children to go home, the social workers will work with the parents and court system to make other permanent plans for the children, such as adoption or permanent placement in a relative’s home.
2. One year is a long time in the life of a child. Children need to be where they are going to grow up as soon as possible. The goal is for children to be returned to their families or placed in another permanent home within one year or less. By working with the social worker the parent can help the child’s stay in foster care be as short as possible.
   
   
3. Services to the Family:
   
   
1. Every family enters into a family services case plan with DSS. The family services case plan is like a social contract between the parent and DSS. This plan is based on the reasons the child/children were removed from the home. If the parent does everything on the family services case plan and makes their home safe, a judge will take that into account when deciding if the children are returned home. Depending on the strengths and needs of a family’s situation, the family services case plan may ask them to do such things as:
   
   
1. attend counseling sessions
2. attend AA or NA meetings
3. get and keep a job
4. find a safe, permanent place to live
5. attend parenting classes
6. make other changes in their home
   
   
4. Specialized Services for Adolescents:
   
   
1. There is a program called LINKS, which is available to children in foster care who are between the ages of 13 and 21. The LINKS program (formerly Independent Living) was developed to help children with life skills and support systems. When children are ages 13 through 15, the focus is on assessment and exposing children to opportunities for building the skills they need in order to be successful in life. The emphasis is on planning ahead and identifying resources. When children are ages 16 through 18, the assessment process continues but more activities and opportunities are available. Each child is assisted with the development of a personal support network. The LINKS program provides financial assistance to enable these young people to participate in special projects, activities and seminars. Children are assisted with career planning and part-time employment. Necessary services to assist with educational goals may be funded through LINKS. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 may remain in foster care on a voluntary basis. The LINKS program can help them to accomplish the goals that will enable them to live independently. Housing and other assistance may be provided. When young people leave foster care, they are encouraged to maintain contact with their social worker so that we can monitor their progress and provide services as needed. Outreach services may be ongoing for a period of time as long as the assistance is needed.

6. DATE OF INFORMATION: May 1, 2001