For birth parents whose children have entered the foster care system, the intricacies of the foster care and legal systems can be overwhelming. In response to this, some states have created handbooks for birth parents to help guide them through the process. Below are some handbooks that are available on-line.

• Alaska: A Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
  Designed for Alaskan parents or guardians who are involved in child abuse and neglect cases, this handbook outlines the court processes involved in these types of cases. Information is provided on the rights and responsibilities of parents, the role of the Division of Family and Youth Services (DFYS), and different types of hearings and conferences, including: the termination of parental rights hearing; the permanency court hearing; the permanency planning conference at DFYS; the temporary custody court hearing; the pre-trial conference page; the adjudication hearing; the disposition hearing page; and the Family and Children 6 Month Review/Conference. DFYS procedures when involved with a Native child are explained, as well as the roles of social workers and family attorneys in helping children and families. Contact information is provided for local DFYS offices and State offices.

• California: Dependency Court
  California provides two booklets for parents involved in the dependency system: "Juvenile Court Information for Parents (Dependency)" and "The Dependency Court: How it Works." Both are available online.

• Florida:
  These resources are from the Florida courts:
  • A Parent's Guide to Juvenile Dependency Court - booklet

  • A Family Guide to Dependency Court - video

• Hawaii: Guide to Child Welfare Services
  The Hawaii Department of Human Services has separate guides for the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.

• Illinois: Substitute Care and Your Child
  This handbook from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is available for download in both English and Spanish.
  
  
• Iowa: Parent's Juvenile Court Handbook
  This handbook focuses specifically on court processes. It is designed to help parents understand what is going on with their case, what to expect in the future with hearings, and what their rights and responsibilities are in a "child in need of assistance" case. Also available in Spanish.
  
  
• Michigan: A Parent's Guide to Children's Protective Services
  

• Montana: What Happens Next
  This handbook is a guide to the Child and Family Services Division, Child Protective Services.

• Nebraska: Guide for Parents: Walking Your Way Through the Nebraska Juvenile Court Child Protection Process

• Nevada:
  

  A Parent's Guide to Child Protective Services
  Guía para los Padres sobre los Servicios de Protección Infantil

• New Mexico: Handbook for Parents and Guardians in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases
  What parents need to know about the court process and the people helping them with their case.

• New York City Administration for Children's Services
  The Parents' Handbook: A Guide for Parents with Children in Foster Care
  This handbook was written for birth parents who have questions and concerns about foster care; it answers questions in a sensitive and respectful tone. Parents who previously had children in foster care contributed to the writing of the handbook.

• New York City: The Survival Guide to the NYC Child Welfare System: A Workbook for Parents by Parents
  This workbook was written by parents who have had first hand dealings with the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), in partnership with lawyers and social workers working in Family Court and its related systems. It explains ACS child welfare processes, the rights of parents, and strategies for working with ACS to ensure children are kept at home, brought back home as fast as possible, or receiving the best care and support possible if they cannot be home. Also available in Spanish

• Pennsylvania: Allegheny County: A Parent's Handbook
  This book approaches a birth parent as a partner in helping to solve problems and improve family life. The handbook provides information about the rights and responsibilities of the birth parents, the child, the agency, and the legal system.

• South Dakota: What I Should Know About My Child Living in Foster Care
  Basics about child protective services and foster care for birth parents in South Dakota, including information on Indian child welfare.

• Tennessee: Clients' Rights: What Happens When A Child and Family Are Involved with DCS?: We Want to Help You Understand
  This guide spells out how the DCS process works in Tennessee and describes what happens when DCS gets called. I

• Vermont: A Guide for Parents with Children in DCF Custody
  This guide answers the questions of parents whose children have been placed in the care of the State. It was prepared with the help of families who have been through the process.

• Virginia
  • Child Protective Services, A Guide to Family Assessment
    Designed for parents who have been contacted by child protective services, this guide discusses the definition of child abuse and neglect in Virginia, why someone would make a report of child abuse, what happens after a report is made, and the family assessment process.

  • Child Protective Services, A Guide to Investigative Procedures
    Designed for parents who have been contacted by child protective services in Virginia, this guide discusses child abuse investigative procedures.

  • Child Protective Services: Appeals and Fair Hearings
    This guide explains the right of parents to appeal a finding of child abuse or neglect in Virginia.

• Washington: Parent's Guide to Child Protective Services (CPS)
  

Last updated 06/30/08