Posts by Marianna Litovich
The Legal System in MA: Who’s Who?
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Many people are surprised to learn about the intricate link between the child welfare and Juvenile Court systems in Massachusetts. So Many Attorneys There is typically no shortage of attorneys involved in a DCF case: parents’ attorneys, children’s attorneys, and DCF attorneys. You will notice that there…
Read MoreWhat is a Fair Hearing?
Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. The Fair Hearing Unit is housed in the Office of General Counsel, at the DCF Central Office in Boston. They act as an arbiter between DCF and any party who is dissatisfied with certain DCF actions or inactions. Like the Special Investigations Unit, the Fair Hearing…
Read MoreNavigating a 51-A: An Overview
Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. A 51-A is a reported allegation of abuse or neglect. It is termed “51-A” because that is the section of the statute in child welfare law that discusses allegations of abuse or neglect and how to handle them. These reports are often the mechanisms that result…
Read MoreClaiming a Foster Child on Your Taxes
Adapted from the AOK Guidebook It Takes a Village. Before we provide information about taxes, we need to acknowledge two things. First, tax law is constantly changing and the rules that govern taxes today might not be the same that will govern taxes next year. Second, we encourage you to consult with a professional tax…
Read MoreWhy Is Foster Care So Hard?
Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, “It Takes a Village.” There are numerous reasons foster parenting is inherently more stressful than parenting in general. These fall into four main categories: the children, social support factors, financial issues, and the child welfare system. The Children Children who have experienced foster care are more likely to have behavioral,…
Read MoreFamily Time (Parent Child Visits)
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Children in foster care will start visiting with their birth family very soon after they enter care, sometimes as quickly as the next day. Typically, Family Time with birth parents will be supervised and held weekly for one hour at a DCF office. Of the many reasons…
Read MoreFoster Parents’ Role in Foster Care Review
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ A foster care review is one of the most valuable milestones in a foster care case. As a foster parent, you have a rare opportunity to sit around the same table as everyone else, and hear the same information in real time. This meeting is held every…
Read MoreHow a Case Progresses Through the System
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ DCF’s practices and policies with regard to foster care can be complicated and idiosyncratic. As we’ve described previously, these practices are not always standardized and can vary from office to office, or even social worker to social worker. However, there are a series of typical milestones that…
Read MoreHow to Advocate for Yourself as a Foster Parent
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Being a part of the foster care system is never an easy or straightforward experience. Inevitably, you will encounter challenges you weren’t expecting, surprises you’re not sure how to handle, and difficult situations that leave you wondering about the best course of action. Of course, we won’t…
Read MoreBefore the Social Worker Leaves
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ There are a few things you should make sure to have before the social worker leaves. However, it is not uncommon for the social worker not to have some of this information immediately available, particularly if it is an emergency placement. So, just try to get as…
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