Legal Definitions - foster-care review board

A foster-care review board is a group of trained volunteers who regularly examine the cases of children living in foster care. Their main role is to ensure that a clear and timely plan is in place for each child's long-term well-being, whether that means returning home to their biological family, being adopted, or finding another permanent living arrangement. These boards assess the progress of these plans and then provide their recommendations and findings directly to the court that oversees the child's case.

Here are some examples of how a foster-care review board operates:

• Imagine a situation where a young child, Maya, has been in foster care for six months while her parents work to complete court-ordered parenting classes and secure stable housing. The foster-care review board would meet to look at Maya's case file, speak with her social worker, and assess the parents' progress. They would evaluate whether the services provided to the parents are effective and if the goal of reunification is still realistic within a reasonable timeframe. Their report to the court would help the judge decide if Maya should continue in foster care with the goal of returning home, or if the permanency plan needs to be adjusted.

• Consider a teenager named Alex who has been in foster care for several years, and efforts to reunify him with his biological family have unfortunately not been successful. The foster-care review board would review all the steps taken to find Alex a permanent home, such as efforts to identify relatives who could provide guardianship or to find an adoptive family. They would ensure that the child welfare agency is actively pursuing a stable, long-term solution for Alex, rather than allowing him to remain in temporary placements indefinitely. The board's findings would inform the court about the progress and challenges in securing a permanent family for Alex.

• Suppose a sibling group, Emily and David, are placed in foster care together, but their foster parents are struggling to manage David's behavioral challenges. The foster-care review board would examine the children's current placement, the support services being offered to the foster family, and the children's individual needs. They might recommend additional resources for David, explore whether a different type of foster home would be more suitable for his specific needs while still keeping the siblings together, or suggest modifications to the current care plan. Their detailed report would assist the judge in making informed decisions about the children's welfare and placement stability.