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Children in Foster Care with Parents in Federal Prison: A Toolkit for Child Welfare Agencies, Federal Prisons, and Residential Reentry Centers

NCJ Number
242566
Date Published
June 2013
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This toolkit is intended for use by child welfare agencies, Federal prison management personnel, and staff of residential reentry centers in coordinating services for foster-care children with parents in Federal prison.
Abstract
The toolkit consists of nine components. First, "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Social Workers" explains common questions social workers have when managing cases of children with parents in Federal prison. Second, "FAQs for Unit Teams" identifies and answers common questions that unit teams in Federal prisons may have when working with incarcerated parents with child in foster care; for example, "How can an incarcerated parent locate their child in foster care?" Third, " FAQs for Residential Centers (RRCs)" identifies and answers common questions for staff at RRCs, such as, "How can I determine if an incarcerated parent still has custody?" Fourth, "Glossary of Commonly Used Terms" assists prison unit teams and social workers in understanding the common terms and processes of Federal prisons and child welfare agencies. Fifth, "Child Welfare Myth Buster" explains that not all parents in prison automatically lose their parental rights. Sixth, "Incarceration Timeline" provides general information about the incarceration process from arrest to release. Seventh, "Child Welfare Timeline" provides general information on the child welfare system's process from the initial report and the child's placement in foster care to case planning and working toward a permanent solution. Eighth, "State Child Welfare Agency Contact Information" provides information on how to contact State child welfare agencies. Ninth, "Additional Resources" presents several pages of resources that may assist child welfare, Federal prison, or residential reentry center staff.