Foster Care Liaison

Foster Care Liaison Point of Contact

Jennifer Emmerich, Director of Special Services

601 Hornet Lane

Huntsville, MO 65259

Office phone: (660) 277-3723

Who is a child in Foster Care?

The Title I foster care provisions apply to ALL children in foster care enrolled in schools in the SEA. • “Foster Care” means 24-hour substitute care for all children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the child welfare agency has placement and care responsibility. • Includes placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions, and pre-adoptive homes. • A child in foster care regardless of whether the foster care facility is licensed and payments are made by the State, Tribal, or local agency for the care of the child, whether adoption subsidy payments are being made prior to the finalization of an adoption, or whether there is Federal matching of any payments that are made. (45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a)). 

• If it’s not in the child’s best interest to stay in his or her school of origin, the student must be immediately enrolled in the new school, even if the child is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment

 • The enrolling school shall immediately contact the school last attended to obtain relevant academic and other records

• A child cannot be denied enrollment because they don’t have proper documentation

 • Child should also be attending classes and receiving appropriate academic services 

• SEAs and LEAs should review policies to remove barriers to immediate enrollment

**See the attached Best Interest Determination Procedure Document

Transportation

LEAs must provide assurances that they will collaborate with State or Local CWAs to: 

• Develop and implement clear written procedures for how transportation will be provided, arranged, and funded for the duration of the time in foster care

 • Procedures must ensure that children will promptly receive transportation in a cost-effective manner in accordance with the Foster Connections Act 

• Ensure that, if there are additional costs incurred in providing transportation to the school of origin, LEAs will provide transportation IF:

 • The local CWA agrees to reimburse the LEA • The LEA agrees to pay the cost; OR • The LEA and local CWA agree to share the cost

• Transportation must be provided in a “cost effective” manner, so low-cost/no-cost options should be explored

 • Even if an LEA doesn’t transport other students, it must ensure that transportation is provided to children in foster care consistent with procedures developed in collaboration with CWAs 

**See the attached Transportation Document

Dispute Resolution Procedures

* LEAS and local CWAs should collaborate to develop a joint process for making best interest determinations

* Should consider multiple student-centered factors 

*Transportation costs should not be a factor

 *Should consult child, if appropriate, any adults who have meaningful relationships with child

*If they can’t come to an agreement, ultimate decision should reside with the CWA 

*SEAs and LEAs should coordinate with CWAs to develop a dispute resolution process 

*To the extent feasible and appropriate, a child must remain in his/her school of origin, while awaiting a decision, to reduce the number of school moves 

**See the attached Dispute Resolution Procedures Document