Humboldt County Grand Jury
• 2017-2018
• Agency Response
Response to:
Do You Know What I Know - Juvenile Court Hearings
Response to Grand Jury Report Report Title: Do You Know What I Know? Juvenile Court Hearings Report Date: June 25, 2018
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
Page 2
Foster parents generally are keenly aware of their foster children’s daily behavior and developmental issues, so their input is valuable at the 6-Month Review Hearing and the 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings. Response: DHHS-CWS agrees with this finding. The observation of caregivers is valuable in all the work DHHS-CWS does.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Page 2
Procedures are in place to allow foster parents to provide child development and safety information at the 6-Month Review Hearing and the 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings. These procedures are not always followed, preventing the court from making fully informed decisions about the status of the foster youth. Response: DHHS-CWS agrees with this finding. Substitute care providers do not consistently follow the procedures in place that are intended to ensure they provide the court their input at review hearings.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends Humboldt County Child Welfare Services attach a copy of Caregiver Information Form (JV-290) to each copy of the 6-Month Review Hearing and 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings notification letter sent to foster parents, and encourage their participation. This requirement should be in place by October 1, 2018. (F1,
F3
Page 2
Initial training provided by CWS during the Resource Family Home licensing process is limited in scope and focus, causing new caregivers to sometimes misunderstand their rights to provide input at the 6-Month Review Hearing and the 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings. Response: DHHS-CWS agrees with this finding. The current training does not cover in detail the purpose and use of the JV-290 information forms.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Page 2
It is important for CWS social workers to improve communication with foster parents prior to the 6Month Review Hearing and the 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings in order to facilitate overall communication to the court. Response: DHHS-CWS agrees with the finding that improved communication with foster parents prior to the 6-Month Review Hearing and the 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings will facilitate overall communication with the court. DHHS-CWS also agrees with the implied finding that poor communication deprives the court of necessary information.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Page 2
Foster parents are not consistently trained and encouraged by CWS to provide child development and safety information at the 6-Month Review Hearing and the 12/18-Month Permanency Hearings, leading to confusion about the foster parents’ role at hearings. Response: DHHS-CWS agrees with this finding. Inconsistent training and encouragement leads to confusion among foster parents regarding their role at review hearings.
No recommendations for this finding