Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System AFCARS The Administration for Children and Families

If the child’s needs would be best met by re-placement in your home, the county placing agency has the discretion to do this. The county placing agency is responsible for identifying the permanent placement option and placing the child in that home as early as possible in the dependency process. There are times when a foster family and a foster child are not a good “fit” despite everyone’s best efforts. Prior to or at the time of placement, you have a Right To receive child information about difficult and problematic behaviors, including behaviors that may pose a risk to your family, unless a court says otherwise. The list should be submitted in writing to the county, and, if possible, the child’s attorney and/or the juvenile court, and request that placement and adoption assessment or home studies be done on the households listed.

The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (PUB 372) provides information on the permanency option for children in long-term foster care placements with relative caregivers who have become the child’s legal guardian.
Depending on the preliminary findings regarding the allegations, the foster child may be removed from your home immediately .
As of July 1, 2026, child care licensure is managed by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood.
However, in those rare situations where disclosure of any information would cause the foster child or foster home to be exposed to a known threat, the County will ask the Court to order complete confidentiality.
Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) – This means permanent legal responsibility for the child.

DFPS Agency

How do I find out which social worker is assigned to the foster child in my care? A foster home can be “on hold” as to placements as foster care placements are at the discretion of the county placing agency. You should immediately communicate to your foster child’s social worker your desire to have the sibling placed with you. I have a non gamstop casino foster child placed in my home and would like the child’s sibling who is also in foster care placed together in my home – how can I make this happen?

Current Foster Parents

Elizabeth Popp Berman is the Richard H. Price Professor of Organizational Studies and (by courtesy) Sociology at the University of Michigan. Three generations of her maternal family live on O’ahu, the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands. We will now ask for a login code anytime you log in on a device we don’t recognize. We will now ask for a login code anytime you log in on a device we don’t recognise.

We will now ask for a login code anytime you log in.

Kinship/Relative Placement – The home of a relative or family friend where a child is placed to live when parents are unable to provide for the child’s safety. If no one can be found, the court can give temporary legal custody to CPS, who then places the children in foster care (learn more). Giving a Child a Permanent Home – Choices for Relatives (PUB 344) – this pamphlet will explain some of the major differences among adoption, guardianship, and foster care and the choices a relative has when the relative child cannot return to live safely with his or her parent. Ask the assigned social worker, social worker’s supervisor, or child’s attorney to communicate this information to you as soon as possible after the court date. As part of the team supporting the foster child in your care, the county placing agency should make every effort to give you advance notice of meetings and conferences scheduled regarding the foster child in your care.

If it is not possible for the siblings to be in the same placement at this time, law and regulations require that the county placing agency ensure that ongoing and frequent interaction occurs between the siblings to develop and maintain sibling relationships. In order to accomplish a change in placement, you will need to give the social worker a seven (7) day notice that you want the child removed , unless there are special circumstances that would require immediate removal. Once a foster child is placed in my home can I request that the child be placed with another foster family?

What is Foster Care

Basic foster care rates and Payments are set by the State and are intended solely for reimbursement of the direct costs you incur in caring for the child. If you need assistance to verify the accuracy of the eligibility findings, read this helpful guide Relative Caregiver’s Guide to Benefits – Steps to understanding, applying for and receiving the appropriate benefits for foster children – The Alliance for Children’ Rights. The county placing agency cannot use State and federal funds for children who are placed in homes that have not yet been licensed, approved or certified.

Home Study/Home Assessment – This is an assessment of the home of any person requesting possession of a child for whom CPS is the managing conservator. You are still one of the most important people in your child’s life. We don’t have to be friends, but we can work together for the best interest of your child. We will explain that just because you are not with your child doesn’t mean that you do not love him or her. We will help your child deal with everyday life as easily as possible until your child goes home. No child in the managing conservatorship of CPS may be deprived of basic necessities or be subjected to cruel, harsh, unusual, or unnecessary punishment.

Many factors such as the needs of the child, the child’s school of origin, and siblings are considered when deciding on placement of a child. However, placement decisions are made at the discretion of the county placing agency. Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) – Parent(s) loses all legal right to the child by court order and the child is legally free to be adopted. It outlines expectations for change needed in order for the child to be returned home safely as well as the services CPS will provide to help the parent make those changes. Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC) – This means permanent legal responsibility for the child.

However, when the child does not qualify for Federal AFDC-FC (or sometimes referred to as Yoakum), the relative caregiver will be told to apply for CalWORKs as a Non-Needy Relative Caretaker. When a child is placed with a relative, the only available foster care Payment is Federal AFDC-FC. Call the social worker and ask for the name and contact number for the assigned foster care eligibility worker or the foster care eligibility supervisor. There is often confusion with the term “hold” which is a reference to the county placing agency’s decision to no longer place children in an identified foster home. If the caregiver feels that inadequate information is provided by the county social worker regarding the “Hold” decision, contact the county social worker’s supervisor. The social worker will discuss this with you and your foster child, if age appropriate.