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Policies of the Indiana Division of Family and Children

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This section presents policies of the Division of Families and Children as they impact children in out-of-home care, foster parents, and potential adoptive parents. The section includes:

  1. The Case Conference policy of the Division of Family and Children (DFC);
  2. The new agreement between foster parents and the DFC;
  3. The Table of Contents of the Child Welfare Manual. This manual defines policy for case managers of the DFC;
  4. The Table of Contents of the Foster Family Handbook. This manual defines DFC policy for foster parents;
  5. A Family Reunification Plan as a guide for biological parents who have had their children removed from the home;

The Case Conference Policy

This policy specifies that all parties involved in the care of a foster child be included in case planning through the case conference. Any member of the team serving a foster child, including the foster parent, can request a case conference. A case conference is especially helpful when a case plan is being changed in a manner which some advocates feel is not in the child’s best interest. Except in cases of substantiated abuse or neglect or in the presence of a court order, the foster child cannot be removed from the foster home while the case conference is pending. See ACT’s brochure on the Case Conference Policy.

The Foster Parent Agreement

Foster parents sign an agreement annually with the Division of Family and Children. This agreement constitutes a contract between the parties. The responsibilities of each party are defined. The agreement has recently been updated to better reflect current law.

Child Welfare Manual of the DFC

Case managers use this manual. The table of contents is presented here as a way of showing the information available. The manual itself is available at county offices of the Division of Family and Children.

Foster Family Handbook of the DFC

Foster parents receive a copy of this manual at the time they become foster parents. A table of contents is provided here to suggest the areas that are covered.