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SAVE YOURSELF SOME FRUSTRATON

If you get to know you foster childs team early in the placement you WILL save your family quite a bit of frustration. Early communication and establishing relationships has proven to make a big difference for most foster families. What should you do?

INTRODUCE YOURSELF DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE PLACEMENT TO:

1. Permanent Planning Worker Childs worker AND Supervisor
2. Guardian Ad Litem Child appointed court attorney
3. CASA if assigned or available

If you don't know who they are ask. Ask the caseworker, ask the supervisor, and call CASA call the court- but find out!!! Get to know the child's Attorney Ad Litem. Call him/her and introduce yourself and I even send them pictures of the child so that they can have a face for their case. Send them the summary of calls from family and any developmental reports that will provide him with the information that he will need to represent the child with the child's best interest in mind.

Caseworkers are often over worked and overwhelmed. Don't assume that they will be able to get everything that you provide to the attorney. You are that child's advocate as far as making sure the court has everything that they need to make a responsible decision that will determine this child's future. You don't have to call every week just set a routine.

DOMUMENT FACTS ABOUT THE CHILDS CASE

Your observational and factual notes and documentation will prove invaluable.

• Keep factual notes about the case as they happen. (Visit times, dates, who showed, who didn't, DNA tests, doctor visits, injuries).
• Keep records of contacts with the biological parents(s). Reactions pre and post visits. Don't interpret just record.
• Keep good records of contacts with your caseworker. Caseworkers make notes from each call you should too! Get important information in writing.
• Send update letters to your team (include pictures of the child) every 8 weeks. Let them know how the child is doing developmentally, medically, psychologically, educationally, etc. Include appropriate notes from your documentation.
• Attend all PPRs and court hearings. You have the timeline in you Foster Parent Handbook. Keep you own timeline so that you can call you child's worker at least 2 weeks before there should be a PPR or court hearing. They can check the schedule. If not, your home worker can. You should be receiving written notification of all court hearings. If not are not contact your teammates.

Your best friend in foster care is you paper work. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is. Write down everything. When social workers call, when you call social workers, family calls. What time, the date, what was said. Keep a journal as to the daily activities that occur with each child.

You don need to write a book but you certainly want to be able to protect yourself and provide valuable information that could be very significant to the long-term placement decisions of the child.

Oklahoma Attorney listings:
To file complaints- http://www.okbar.org
All complaints against judges are handled by the Council on Judicial Complaints. To obtain a required form, contact the council at:
1901 N. Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4999,
(405) 522-4800.

Prepare A Court Report--Here are some tips for you.

Some things to remember when preparing a court report are:

• Complete all identifying information
• Try NOT to use the words \"think, feel or believe\" for those are emotional words. You want your report to be FACTS, not emotion.
• Attach any documentation that backs up your statements. For example, if your report discusses a visit at the Child Study Center, attach a copy of the Child Study Center\'s Report.
• YOU are the expert on the child. Report as much information as you can.
• Have copies ready for all parties. Parties include the case worker, Asst District Attorney, child\'s attorney, Judge, parents\' attorney(s), CASA worker (if applicable). Don\'t forget to get a copy of the case worker\'s Court Report (and the CASA, if applicable)
• When you go to court and approach the bench, hand out your court report.
• If you are not able to attend, make sure you fax your report to the Judge or child\'s attorney 5 days prior.

Good Luck--If you have any questions regarding your court report, contact one of FCAO\'s board members (see \"Meet the Board\" on this site). FYI--You can get the court number (JF number), court date, and Judge\'s name from the case worker.

Click here to download a sample court report to fill out (doc)

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR'S GETTING INVOLVED

Contact your State Representative, or Senator, and request a copy of "A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO STATE GOVERNMENT.www.okonline.com/government.html What this guide has:

How to contact your state officials:

1. Call a Senator, or Representative, directly and request to speak to the Congressional Aide that handles Children's Rights Issues for that elected Senator, or Representative.
2. Ask to speak to that person only. If that person is unavailable when I call, wait until that person is available, or wait until that person returns your call.
3. Never ask to speak to the elected official but write directly to that elected official. Sometimes after speaking with the elected official's aide you may receive a letter from the elected official.
4. Most aides are wonderful people and very efficient and experienced at what they do for their boss and they can get a lot done.