Information about your foster child and the case plan is not only necessary for you to provide the best care for each child in your home, but also for you to assist the agency in implementing the case plan and to provide useful input.

Foster parents and relative care providers are entitled to the following information at the time a child is placed in the home:

• The child’s name, date of birth, and social security number
• The name and telephone number of the assigned caseworker
• All information available regarding the child’s health. This includes the child’s Medical Passport listing the child’s basic medical history, record of immunizations, record of ongoing medications, and any other information concerning the child’s physical and mental health
• All known history of abuse or neglect
• All known emotional, behavioral, psychological, or psychiatric problems
• An authorization to provide routine and emergency medical care. This should include the child’s Medicaid number
• Any other information available to enable the foster parents to provide a safe, stable, and healthy environment for the foster child and other family members

In addition to the information provided at the time of initial placement, foster parents and relative care providers are also entitled to the following information throughout the duration of the case:

• The Initial Service Plan (ISP)
• Each Updated Service Plan (USP) as they are completed (every 90 days)
• All court orders
• All of the child’s medical, educational, and mental health reports

The caseworker is only required to provide the above information if the care provider submits a request for the information in writing. The information is to be provided within 10 days of the request. Once an initial request is made, information that becomes available as the case progresses is to be provided automatically. A new written request is not required each time new information or reports become available.

Due to confidentiality restrictions, the following information is not available to foster parents or relative care providers:

• Police reports
• Mental health records on the parents unless the parents authorize their release
• HIV information about anyone other than the child
• The name of the person who reported the abuse/neglect to CPS
• Substance abuse information, including information about the child, unless authorized for release

Note: Foster parents and relative care providers are required by law to keep all information about a foster child’s case strictly confidential and are prohibited from sharing it with any person not directly involved with the care of a foster child.