This section provides information to assist parents learn more about foster care, including what to expect, tips for building positive relationships with caseworkers and your child's caregiver, maintaining contact through visits with your child, and navigating the child welfare and reunification processes.
Birth Parent National Network
Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Provides information about policies for better outcomes for children and families, with a focus on establishing parent leaders who are willing to share their challenges and successes across the country to effect change in prevention and child welfare.
Circle of Parents
Offers a friendly, supportive environment led by parents and other caregivers where anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children.
Find a Parent Group
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Provides a list of parent support groups across the country for adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers. The database of support groups is searchable by State or region.
A Guide for Parents Involved in Michigan’s Child Welfare System
Van Buren (2017)
WPVE Public Radio
Presents parents’ experiences and provides a step-by-step guide to child welfare involvement.
Guide to Dependency Court – For Parents
California Judicial Branch
Outlines standard court processes for parents whose children have been placed into the child welfare system.
Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Dependency Cases: Information on the Court Process and the Roles of People Helping You With Your Case (PDF - 174 KB)
Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary, Court Improvement Program (2020)
Explains the dependency court process in Virginia to parents, including a timeline and description of the required hearings, the steps to take to get their children back, parental rights and responsibilities, and more.
Parents Anonymous
Provides evidence-based, culturally responsive, and innovative training and resources to help strengthen parents' abilities to effectively care for their children and create better outcomes for their families and communities.
Parents Know Your Rights Guides
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
Offers State-specific resources for parents that can help them identify their rights and responsibilities.
Partnering With Birth Parents To Promote Reunification
Reunification: Bringing Your Children Home From Foster Care
Single Father Uses Experience to Help Other Parents
Casey Family Programs (2016)
Presents how a father reunified with his son and uses his experience to mentor other families navigating the child welfare system.
TYPS Sheet for Birth Families (PDF - 1,750)
Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing & Upbring (2018)
Emphasizes the importance for youth to have and maintain a relationship with their birth families.
Using Media Effectively With Young Children and Virtual Visitation/Part One: Virtual Communication With Young Children [Video]
Center for Child Welfare (2020)
Shares information on how to use remote and virtual communication to maintain relationships during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Part two of the video is also available online.