Confidentiality
A foster parent wants to know if the mother's last drug drop was negative. Can you tell them?
No! Even if the foster parent is a family member, you cannot give parent service information to them
Drive a bio parent to a parent/child visit?
No
You are on your first home visit with two children who are living with their father for an intact case. One of the children asks if you are DCFS and indicates that their father told them not to tell DCFS some things. WDYD?
Explain your role. Ask what they're not supposed to tell. Reassure them they did nothing wrong telling you. Explain you can't keep secrets if it's about safety especially.
A CASA advocate must attend all court hearings
False! You're always welcome, but not required
Trauma affects children less when they're babies and toddlers
False!
Your family member is worried about your safety when you go on a visit and wants to know the address you'll be at.
You cannot give this. What can you do?
Buy and bring ingredients to make slime with a child?
Yes, as long as foster parent is okay with it. You can also check with AS to see if we have supplies in the office you can pick up.
A relative foster parent tells you that the caseworker said bio mom can move back into the home now as long as she's never left alone with the child. WDYD?
Call your AS!!!
In the courthouse waiting room, and advocate should sit only by the foster parents
False, talk to everyone on your case to not give impression of bias
Only major events can cause trauma, like a car accident, war, or witnessing extreme violence
No! Trauma can be caused by long term neglect, abuse, chronic stress, or even medical issues
Biological mother calls you and wants to know what the CASA child is telling you about visits
Attend their CASA child's ballet recital?
Yes, if asked and okay with the foster parents
Biological father's visits are suspended, but foster parent shows you a picture from his Instagram of him with the kids and mom during one of her unsupervised visits. WDYD
Ask for a screenshot. Call your AS
Tell them they need to speak with the CASA attorney or supervisor
Children with trauma always act younger than they are
No, some act much older, some are parentified, some act their age. There's no one profile for a traumatized child
A CASA child tells you that the foster father watches her get undressed every night even though she's old enough that she doesn't need help.
This isn't confidential. Call your supervisor to talk next steps
Visit their CASA child more than 1x per month
Depends. Remember not to get too enmeshed with the family.
A CASA child tells you during a visit that back when he lived with his mother and father, his cousin touched his private parts and made him touch his. WDYD?
Call your AS. If this is unknown previously, you'll be making a hotline call.
Our cases are heard at the Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet
No, at River Valley Justice Center and the Grundy County Courthouse
What types of behaviors might you see from a child who has experience long term domestic violence in the home?
Parentification, hypervigilance, people pleasing, physical pain symptoms, bed wetting, age regression...
Bio mom's therapist expresses some concerns that bio mother is not ready to safely be alone with the child. Do you put this in your court report?
Yes! Concerns from a provider aren't confidential when it comes to the court. Who wouldn't you tell?
Call and speak with a child's speech therapist to ask for updates or clarification on services?
Yes!
You're visiting with a child with developmental delays. She makes an offhand comment about her back hurting from sleeping on the floor. You've seen her bed and bedroom during previous visits. WDYD?
Ask follow up questions, start figuring out what's going on. Then notify AS for next steps
All court dates need a court report submitted
No, only intact status hearings, Dispositional Hearings, and PRH.
A child who has experienced trauma at the hands of a caregiver through abuse and neglect can never trust that caregiver again
False, with time and change the child can trust again. That's what we're working for with reuinification.