Guidebook
Claiming 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 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 MoreYour Role as a Foster Parent: Six Things to Know
Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Being a foster parent can be a rewarding and exciting experience. It can also be unnerving, challenging, and emotionally taxing. In other words, it’s rather like parenting…. but so much more! As foster parents, we want to treat our foster children with the same level of care…
Read MoreCensus, Taxes, and Birth Certificates
Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. Census, taxes, and birth certificates? Oh my! There are some nitty gritty logistics to deal with as foster and adoptive parents that can be a little confusing. What we’re most often asked about is: birth certificates, social security cards, census, and taxes. Here’s what you need…
Read MoreOpen Adoption Agreements
Indeed, many cases resolve before trial, either days or weeks or months before, or on the first day of trial, with a parent or parents’ agreement to “surrender” or “sign,” meaning they agree to voluntarily give up their parental rights to the child. This typically is done when there is a plan for the child…
Read MoreSupports Available for Foster Families in Western MA
*Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. Foster and adoptive families have access to various types of resources and supports that help to meet the needs of children. Supports and resources that are available in the area are constantly changing. If there is something you need that is not listed here, contact us…
Read MoreBirth Parents’ Rights and Children’s Rights
The right to parent is a sacred one in our society and we don’t take it away from people lightly. Our current child welfare and legal systems are set up to protect parents’ rights to parent their children and to ensure that parents have every opportunity to preserve that right if it is temporarily taken…
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