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You Need to Act Fast
When a child is removed from a home, by law, local government representatives are required to do everything to identify a potential relative that is eligible to care for the child, within 24 hours. So, there is a tight window of time with which to act.
The first thing you should do is call Knotts Family Agency. You should contact the foster family agency immediately to initiate the application for Resource Family Approval.
Here are some additional factors to keep in mind.
Home Environment Assessment- Home Inspection
The county will conduct an initial inspection to determine whether your home is safe. Of course, you need to make sure your house is presentable for the home environment assessment (home inspection).
If necessary, a Knotts Family Agency Parent Support Specialist will be available to assist you in getting your home as prepared as possible (no need to go out shopping), but the home should be orderly and presentable.
Background Check
The county will run an initial background check into the county’s case management system to see if you or someone in your household has had previous allegations. Because the LiveScan results would not be available, they are likely to rely primarily on the findings of the CLETS, CSWs
Arrests, Criminal Record
Be aware that the county reserves the right to determine if a person can or cannot be cleared as a resource family. The approval of an applicant as a resource family by any foster family agency, does not automatically entitle that caregiver to placement of a child in his or her home.
However, because the county would have already completed the review of the applicant background search conducted through California Law Enforcement Tracking System (CLETS), Child Abuse Central Index (CACI), and Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS), it is likely to give county clearance for placement of child(ren).
A prospective caregiver’s home can meet the RFA standards, but the county social services agency may conclude that placing the specific child(ren) in the home may still not be in the best interest of the child(ren).
Contact Knotts Family Agency to learn more about the Approved Relative Caregiver and the Relative Emergency Placement programs.
If a child in your family or extended family is currently living in foster care and you would like for them to be placed with you, you may request a placement through the following process.
Inform the social worker
It is important that the county becomes aware that you are interested in caring for the child in your family. The law requires county agencies to give first priority to relatives and extended family members.
In some cases, there may be more than one social worker assigned to the child’s case.
Make sure to inform each one as they do not always share information. If you do not know who the social worker is call the county and let them know that you’re relatively childhood been removed from their home and asked to contact their social worker you will need the child’s father’s name and her birth date
Initiate the RFA process
Apply for Resource Family Approval immediately if you think that a child in your family might come into foster care and you want to be considered for placement.
It is strongly recommended that you initiate the resource from the approval process to become a resource parent so that the transition may be as smooth and quick as possible
Attend the court hearing
It is possible that you will not be allowed in the courtroom, but you can wait to speak to the attorney representing the child and request a Relative Information Form called JV-285 at the court. This form allows you to give the court information about the child and to inform the court that you would like the child to live with you.
If your requested placement is not assessed or considered in a timely manner, you can request a WIC 361.3 hearing in court to move the process along. If the child is already placed somewhere as you can petition the court for WIC 388 hearing, which is a request to change the current placement of the child.
Financial Consideration
When a child is placed in your home you will begin receiving a monthly stipend to cover the cost of care for that child . If you’re not yet approved as a resource family but the child has already been placed in your home you will receive temporary funding for up to a year, or until you are approved.
Additional Policies
Placement of a child or non-minor dependent may be made prior to the Resource Family Approval, at any time during the child’s case, including pre or post disposition, if either of the following situations apply:
