Legal Toolkit Series
for California Caregivers and Their Partners

LAPP’s Legal Toolkit Series for California Caregivers and Their Partners provides “plain language” legal and practice information on a wide range of topics affecting foster, kinship, and adoptive families and their child welfare partners throughout California. These pamphlets are geared towards non-attorneys, but include cites to applicable California law and regulations.  Each Toolkit contains practical hints on applying the law as well as links to websites, court forms and other useful resources.

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2007 Legislative Update for California Caregiver Families
LAPP’s 2007 legislative update provides information on important new foster care laws passed by the California legislature that took effect on January 1, 2007, important new federal legislation, and a summary of foster care budget increases in California. Sections on each new law explain the legislature’s intent in enacting the legislation, a summary of the law in “plain language,” a practical explanation of what foster and kinship parents need to know about the law, and an online link to the text of each new law. Highlights of the new laws for 2007 include Senate Bill 1641, Senate Bill 1667, Assembly Bill 2216, and Assembly Bill 2488, and Assembly Bill 2580.

2006 Legislative Update for California Caregiver Families
LAPP’s 2006 legislative update provides information on important new foster care laws passed by the California legislature that will take effect on January 1, 2006. Sections on each new law explain the legislature’s intent in enacting the legislation, a summary of the law in “plain language,” a practical explanation of what foster and kinship parents need to know about the law, and an online link to the text of each new law. Highlights of the new laws for 2006 include Senate Bill 358, Senate Bill 218, Senate Bill 726, Senate Bill 500, Assembly Bill 1412, and Assembly Bill 519.

2005 Legislative Update for California Caregiver Families
LAPP’s 2005 legislative update provides information on important new foster care laws passed by the California legislature that took effect on January 1, 2005. Sections on each new law explain the legislature’s intent in enacting the legislation, a summary of the law in “plain language,” a practical explanation of what foster and kinship parents need to know about the law, and an online link to the text of each new law. Highlights of the new laws for 2005 include Senate Bill 1357, Assembly Bill 1913, Assembly Bill 2502, and Assembly Bill 2661.

2004 Legislative Update for California Caregiver Families
LAPP’s 2004 legislative update provides information on important new foster care laws passed by the California legislature that took effect on January 1, 2004. Sections on each new law explain the legislature’s intent in enacting the legislation, a summary of the law in “plain language,” a practical explanation of what foster and kinship parents need to know about the law, and an online link to the text of each new law. Highlights of the new laws for 2004 include Senate Bill 591, Assembly Bill 408, Assembly Bill 458, and Assembly Bill 490.

Personal Rights of Foster Children and Youth in California’s Foster Care System
LAPP’s Toolkit on Rights of Foster Children and Youth in California’s Foster Care System combines legal requirements with practical suggestions on how caregiver families can comply with California law and Community Care Licensing regulations on foster youth rights. Legal cites to applicable codes and regulations are included for easy reference.

Permanency for California Children in Foster Care
LAPP’s Toolkit on Permanency for California Children in Foster Care explains the efforts child welfare agencies must make to maintain children in their homes, when possible and to plan for an alternate permanent home for children who are placed apart from their parents in foster care. Special emphasis is placed on explaining the permanency options for children (e.g. return home, adoption, guardianship, and long-term care) and the role of foster and kinship caregivers in each one.

Your California Foster Child’s Sibling Relationships
LAPP’s Toolkit on Your California Foster Child’s Sibling Relationships provides information on the rights of brothers and sisters (siblings) when a child is placed in foster care, what and when caregivers should be told about sibling visits, sibling rights when a termination of parental rights (TPR) is being considered, and sibling rights after adoption.

Communicating Concerns About a California Foster Child in Your Care
LAPP’s Toolkit on Communicating Concerns About a California Foster Child in Your Care offers suggestions on how to effectively communicate with child welfare agency staff, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), the child’s attorney, the California Ombudsman for Foster Care, and your local Juvenile Court. Practical information on effectively working with others in the child welfare system and links to court forms is also included.

De Facto Parent Status for California Foster and Kinship Parents
LAPP’s Toolkit on De Facto Parent Status for California Foster and Kinship Parents explains what de facto parent status is, when and how it developed, how and why a foster or kinship parent might apply for it, what factors courts consider in deciding whether to grant the status to a caregiver, what documents de facto parents have access to, and when de facto parent status ends. Special attention is devoted to an explanation of how of participants in the child welfare system (e.g. parents, child welfare agencies, attorneys, and courts) view requests for de facto parent status as well as legal and non-legal considerations in deciding whether to apply for the status.

The Role of the Child’s Attorney in California Juvenile Dependency Cases
LAPP’s Toolkit on the Role of the Child’s Attorney in California Juvenile Dependency Cases explains who represents children in foster care in California, what the child’s attorney does, how and when caregivers should contact their foster child’s attorney, and how to handle complaints about an attorney in California.

Court Participation Basics for California Foster and Kinship Parents
LAPP’s Toolkit on Court Participation Basics for California Foster and Kinship Parents discusses four (4) ways foster and kinship caregivers can participate in the juvenile court hearings about their foster children: “notice and opportunity to be heard” under the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act and California law; de facto parent status; other motions (requests) caregivers may make to the court; and being a witness in your child’s juvenile court case. Practical suggestions are also included on submitting information to the court and on how to effectively provide information to the court in person.

Allegations of Maltreatment against California Foster Caregivers
LAPP’s Toolkit on Allegations of Maltreatment against California Foster Caregivers stresses the importance of safety for all children in foster care and explains the possible consequences of an allegation of maltreatment (abuse) by foster caregivers. Information on licensing violations and deficiencies, the California Child Abuse Central Index, and criminal investigations and charges is included.

Prudent Parent Decision Making for California Foster and Kinship Parents
LAPP's Toolkit on using the "prudent parent standard" provides information about using the standard to make decisions about foster children participating in extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities and about selecting short-term, occasional babysitters. Information on AB 408 and SB 358, which gave rise to the prudent parent standard is included along with links to Community Care Licensing (CCL) memos on both laws. Implementation suggestions are included.