Table of Contents
What Should I Know Before Accepting A Child Into My Home?
If you are a new caregiver (or even if you're not!) this comprehensive list of questions to ask before accepting a new child into your home is a valuable resource to gather the information you need to make an informed decision about your ability to care for this child.
Important Documents to Gather
Checklist of Placement Paperwork
Example Documents & Forms:
DCFS 1399 Notification of School Placement - should be provided to caregiver and school.
Terms and Definitions / Acronyms
Special Education Terms to Know
Now That I Have A New Child In My Home, What Do I Need To Know?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the rights of foster youth, process for decision-making, and common issues and needs that come up as access to education is considered. If you are new to the intersection of foster care and education, this document is the place to start.
For more resources like this, visit the Alliance for Children's Rights website.
Educational Rights Holder (ERH)
All minor students must have an adult holding their educational rights. Often this responsibility is placed with the caregiver or other adult by the court using the JV-535. Students with no ERH may be assigned a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) to hold educational rights. The child's attorney can request that resource parents be designated educational rights holders.
Educational Rights Holder Handout
Example JV-535 - Order Designating ERH
Enrollment Process @ PUSD
Coming soon!
Other School Districts - Contact Foster Youth Liaisons
The LACOE Foster Youth Services coordinating team is available to caregivers and students connect caregivers and youth with services available specifically in support of youth in care.
LACOE Foster Youth Services Home Page
LACOE Foster Youth Resource Guide
Educational Laws and School Stability
My Child Has Been In My Home For Awhile, What Am I Missing?
Level of Care (LOC) and Special Care Increment (SCI) Assessment
The new Level of Care assessment protocol bases caregiver reimbursement on care provided to children and youth in 5 domains: Physical, Behavioral/Emotional, Educational, Health and Permanency/Family Services. The LOC assessment takes place approximately 60 days after placement, and reassessment can be requested if circumstances change. Caregivers should prepare for LOC assessment by tracking the care they provide using the Resource Parent Reporting Tool to insure that the child is receiving the appropriate reimbursement for care. If care exceeds the options on the form, caregivers should include additional documentation to clarify the time invested in the child. Additional funding may be provided in a Specialized Care Increment (this replaces D & F rate designations in LA County) for children and youth with exceptional needs. Caregivers supporting those children are required to complete additional SCI training and certification.
Resource Parent Reporting Tool - pdf
Resource Parent Reporting Tool - .docx
Documentation Best Practices
Coming soon!
Teen Talk for Youth in Alternative Settings is an online sex education program designed to meet the needs of youth in foster care hosted by Planned Parenthood of Pasadena San Gabriel Valley.
Providing information to the Court
Parents should use the JV290 Caregiver Information From to provide information about the child (including educational updates) to the court at every hearing. For more information about the JV290, see this Advokids page. Advokids is also available to consult on language you may use in the JV290. Educational rights holders may additionally use form JV537 to report updated educational information to the court.
Form JV290 - Caregiver Information Form
Form JV537 - Educational Rights Holder Statement
Special Education
Many students in foster care have special educational needs. Students with disabilities have the right to an accessible education through Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) or accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The IEP Process
The Child Find provision of IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) mandates the legal responsibility of public schools to identify, locate and evaluate students with disabilities so that appropriate services can be provided to allow them to access their education. Parents and educational rights holders can initiate the IEP process for students in their care, which includes testing and assessment, an IEP team meeting to discuss the specific needs of the student, and determinations about appropriate accommodations and/or program modifications to support the identified areas of need.
For more details about this process, including specific considerations for foster youth, please refer to the Alliance for Children's Rights Manual starting on pg 14. Specific attention should be paid to best practices including documentation of requests in writing, requesting that results of assessments be provided to IEP team members (including parents or ERH) in advance of the IEP meeting so that all members can participate fully, and holding districts accountable for mandatory timelines.
Requesting Special Education Assessment - Resource Guide including fillable template
The Department of Developmental Services oversees the coordination and delivery of services for Californians with developmental disabilities through a statewide network of 21 community-based, non-profit agencies known as regional centers. Regional centers provide assessments, determine eligibility for services, and offer case management services. Foster youth can be referred and evaluated by the Regional Center that serves their area for access to additional services and support.
Special Education Law & Legal Resources
All students with disabilities, including youth in foster care, have educational rights that must be protected under the law.
Special Education Law Fact Sheet
For additional legal support, caregivers should reach out to the following organizations:
213-213-8000
Disability Rights California (DRC), works in partnership with persons with disabilities-to protect, advocate for, and advance their human, legal, and service rights. DRC is a nonprofit corporation designated as California's system of Protection and Advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
Special Education Rights and Responsibilities - a resource manual for special education services in K-12 education.
Rights Under the Lanterman Act - information on caregiver rights when working with a Regional Center.
213-489-4030
LRLC ‘s sole mission is to ensure that all students are provided with equitable access to the public education system, with a focus towards students involved in the welfare and/or juvenile justice systems, students with learning disabilities and students not accessing the public school system because of language, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, homeless or inadequate facilities.
Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (Southern California)
1-866-833-6712
Clients’s Rights Advocates can consult with and represent people who have developmental disabilities and their families. CRA can investigate the denial of services by a regional center or service provider and represent clients in administrative hearings.
Understood.org
This website provides a variety of resources on supports for people who think and learn differently, including good resources on IEP and 504 plan eligibility and process.
Ongoing Support for Caregivers
The Foster Youth Council is a parent advisory committee of PUSD with monthly meetings that provides a direct connection between caregivers and resource providers and stakeholders in the education of foster youth in Pasadena. All parents (including parents outside of the boundaries of PUSD) are welcome to attend to learn more about resources and advocacy for foster youth in education.
Parent Organizations and Advisory Committees (in Pasadena)
PTA Council - this district-wide PTA Council is the umbrella organization for connection to school level PTA/PTSA organizations you can join or reach out to for support.
African American Parent Council - this district level parent advisory committee supports and advocates on behalf of African American students and families.
Community Advisory Committee (Special Education) - This legally-mandated parent advisory committee meets monthly to review issues of interest to parents of students special education needs and sets district priorities in special education.
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)- This district-wide advisory committee connects parents of English language learners with the PUSD department of Language Assessment and Development. Individual schools also have school-site based English Learner Advisory Committees (ELACs).
Pasadena Education Network (PEN) - Parent engagement organization founded to promote family involvement in public education in PUSD. Resources include information about schools in the district and other opportunities for parents to get involved.
TIES for Families at UCLA provides support to foster and adoptive families, including pre-placement training, comprehensive assessment of a child as part of the matching process, and educational advocacy.
Training Opportunities (FKCE Renewal Hours)
All resource parents are required to complete annual training to maintain their license. These trainings can also provide more detail about resources available to support you and the children in your care.
Foster/Kinship Care Education Workshop Schedule (Pasadena City College)
FKCE Workshop Schedules (LA County)
Resources for Educational Advocacy
Parents can advocate for resources and procedures in support of Foster Youth at the school and district level. California public schools use the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) to allocate resources and set district priorities. The following toolkits prepared by the Alliance for Children's Rights are a great starting point for advocating for foster youth in communities.
Foster Youth Education Toolkit - practical resources for schools to support foster youth through LCAP goals
District Level Best Practices - data driven best practices at the district level
LACOE Foster Youth Resource Guide - LA County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Guide
Resources for Transition Age Youth
Great resource guides in English and Spanish for students are parents in preparation for college and career.
Students 16-20 often qualify for additional support through the DCFS Independent Living Program including help in applying and paying for college, housing, and other basic needs.
Summary of benefits including educational benefits foster youth and former foster youth may be eligible to receive.
Students with disabilities ages 16-21 can receive additional support in both school and work from the Department of Rehab.