14.16 Working with Caregivers

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(14) Resource Development

Policy Title:

Working with Caregivers

Policy Number:

14.16

Previous Policy Number(s):

14.16

Effective Date:

May 2024

Manual Transmittal:

2024-03

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 15-11-109 Notice of Hearing to Specified Nonparties
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-111 Court Orders
Public Law (PL) 105-89 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997
PL 113-183 Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Actively involve caregivers as participants on the foster care team working toward the permanency plan for the child.

  2. Provide caregivers training and information regarding applying the reasonable and prudent parenting standard (see policy 10.14 Foster Care: Promoting Normalcy for Children in Foster Care) when determining whether to allow children in foster care to participate in particular extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities.

  3. Maintain monthly contact either face-to-face, by telephone, email or other means with each caregiver to conduct an ongoing assessment around functioning, safety, and well-being in the foster home.

  4. Conduct quarterly home visits to include:

    1. Assessment of the physical home environment to confirm that it is safe and appropriate to meet the needs of each child placed in the home.

    2. Quality engagement with each foster parent.

    3. Separate quality engagement with each child placed in the foster home.

    4. Quality engagement with all other adult household members and children living in the home (either individually or in a group) to discuss family functioning, roles and responsibilities of household members and the children’s Social Services Case Manager (SSCM), how fostering has impacted them as a family, their likes/dislikes, and any family needs.

    5. Observation of family interactions.

    6. Review of caregiver records and discussion of each child’s involvement in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

  5. Complete SAFE Updates, allowing for individual quality time with all adults and children residing in the home (see policy 14.13 Resource Development: Family Re-evaluation).

  6. Provide caregivers a procedure for contacting the SSCM or other DFCS staff when an emergency arises in their home.

  7. Provide caregivers timely notice of legal proceedings to be held regarding children placed in their home in accordance with policy 17.8 Legal: Caregiver’s Right to Be Notified and Heard.

  8. Conduct an exit meeting with caregivers when the caregivers’ home is voluntarily or involuntarily closed (see policy 14.23 Resource Development: Home Closure).

  9. Document the observation and/or engagement of each family member during contacts in the Foster Adoptive (FAD) stage in Georgia SHINES within 72 hours of occurrence.

Procedures

When performing case management duties, the SSCM will:

  1. Provide the caregivers with as much information as is available about children being placed in their home, including medical and educational information as well as a copy of the Family Plan and Written Transitional Living Plan (WTLP), if applicable.

  2. Keep the caregivers informed of plans for the children and of birth family information that affects the children placed in their home.

  3. Provide the caregivers with procedures for agency contact (DFCS and other agency staff) should emergencies arise in the foster home.

  4. Discuss a plan with the caregivers for handling emergency situations (i.e., contacting 911, seeking emergency medical services, etc.).

  5. Discuss the caregiver’s application of the reasonable and prudent parenting standard when determining whether to allow children in foster care to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities; and that children in the care of the caregiver are given opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

  6. Encourage partnership parenting between foster parents and birth parents when it is appropriate and safe. This includes discussing with the caregivers the input of the child’s parents regarding the types of activities in which they would like the child to participate. Whenever possible, include the birth parents in the decision making.

When making decisions regarding the selection and use of an approved home, the Resource Development (RD) Case Manager will:

  1. Make a mutual decision with the RD supervisor and the caregiver regarding the suitability of a placement.

  2. Select a placement for a child by matching the characteristics and needs of the child with the strengths and protective capacities of the caregivers.

  3. Discuss the child’s behavior and possible reactions to placement with the caregivers.

  4. Discuss the permanency plan for the child and expectations surrounding visitation with the birth family.

  5. Provide the caregivers with as much information available about the child being considered for placement.

County DFCS

  1. Provide all approved caregivers with telephone numbers for contacting the SSCM or other DFCS staff when an emergency occurs during or after regular office hours.

  2. Respond immediately or as indicated by agency protocol. Emergency situations include, but are not limited to, the following:

    1. A child leaves the home without permission or runs away.

    2. A child becomes seriously ill or is seriously injured and requires immediate medical attention.

      Caregivers are to take the child to the emergency room if the child’s regular physician cannot be reached for advice. DFCS or a parent, if applicable, will need to complete any authorization or consent forms.

    3. A child gets into serious trouble with school, law enforcement, etc.

    4. A child’s parent(s), relative, or other unauthorized person attempts to remove the child from the foster home.

    5. There is a serious illness or significant change in the foster home.

    6. A child is victimized or abused in any way (e.g., physically, sexually, etc.).

Social Services Supervisor

  1. Ensure children in care are given opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

  2. During monthly staffing, discuss the visits with the SSCM and RD Case Manager to ensure quality observation and engagement is occurring at each visit.

  3. Review documentation in the Contact Detail to ensure documentation supports what occurred during visits and includes the description of the types of activities in which children are engaged.

  4. Provide coaching to the SSCM and RD Case Manager, as needed, regarding conducting and documenting a quality visit.

Practice Guidance

Partnership Parenting

Parents may be allowed to have parent-child visitation in the home of the caregivers. Caregivers often have life experiences, parenting knowledge, and skills that may benefit parents. Caregivers should be encouraged to share these with parents to assist them in meeting the needs of their children in the future. In some instances, caregivers could serve as a resource to the birth family after reunification, helping to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.

Purposeful Contacts

Although it may not always be possible, face-to-face contact is the preferred method of contact with caregivers. Case managers should make both announced and unannounced visits. Below are some topics that should be discussed during contacts with caregivers:

  1. Health and safety issues

  2. Behavioral issues

  3. Educational issues

  4. Ongoing opportunities children have had to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities

  5. Needed supports, training, or services

  6. Changes within the foster home (i.e., household members, health, etc.)

  7. Progress toward goals of the Family Plan

  8. Children’s permanency plans

  9. Caregiver issues or concerns

Initial Placement

The caregiver’s relationship with DFCS and his/her perception of being supported by DFCS are strongly influenced by the initial placement experience. The transition from pre-service training to in-service situations can be a nervous and unsettling experience for caregivers. A recently approved family needs more frequent contacts by the RD and SSCM to help them adjust to the initial placement. The caregivers should be encouraged to communicate openly about their foster parent experience and the effects on the foster family. The caregivers may have questions or need clarification about training, policies, and related issues.

Emergencies in Foster Homes

Caregivers should always have an updated listing of contact numbers for SSCMs and county leadership. There should never be an emergency situation involving a child in DFCS custody in which the caregivers are unable to contact anyone at the County DFCS. The County DFCS should designate someone to be responsible for updating and distributing the contact list to ensure caregivers always have the most current and accurate contact information. Some find it helpful to distribute contact lists at caregiver meetings or circulate them with monthly newsletters.

Forms and Tools

NA