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
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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
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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)
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Educates foster parents about legal processes so they can effectively advocate for themselves and the children in their care.
State and local examples
Caregivers and the Courts: A Primer on Juvenile Dependency Proceedings for California Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers (PDF - 759 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.