Home > Out-of-Home Care > Casework Practice in Out-of-Home Care > Legal Issues in Out-of-Home Care > Legal Issues for Caregivers

Legal Issues for Caregivers

Resources and information about the role of foster parents and caregivers in court hearings, including State and local examples.

Caregivers and the Courts: Realizing ASFA's Promise of Participation
National Center for Youth Law
Protecting Children, 17(1), 2001
View Abstract
Reviews factors affecting caregiver participation and describes a training curriculum developed by the National Center for Youth Law and the California Judicial Council to enhance the advocacy skills of caregivers.

Foster Families Expanding Role in the Courts
Fehrman
Michigan Child Welfare Law Journal, 4(1), 2000
View Abstract
Reviews current law and policy about the role of foster parents in court proceedings regarding their foster children.

Legal Resource Manual for Foster Parents
National Foster Parent Association (2004)
View Abstract
Educates foster parents about legal processes so they can effectively advocate for themselves and the children in their care.

(Back to Top)

State and local examples

Caregivers and the Courts: A Primer on Juvenile Dependency Proceedings for California Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers (PDF - 758 KB)
Center for Families, Children and the Courts (2002)
Explains the dependency process and describes foster parents' role in informing the court about the child's needs.

(Back to Top)

	Related Information Gateway Topics Out-of-home care: Supporting and retaining foster families Out-of-home care: Support services for relative/kinship caregivers

Updated on March 1, 2010