The Role of Foster Care: How Foster Parent Intervention Affects the Child Welfare System

Authors

Olivia McGrath, Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Abstract

"Every child is entitled to a caregiver who can support the family's efforts toward a successful reunification." The National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents provided by the Children's Bureau clearly states the rights of a child in foster care. A child removed from their biological family's home deserves the efforts of the child welfare system, their biological parents, and their foster parents to work toward returning the child to their home. "Foster to adopt" is a misleading term that contradicts the role of a foster parent. Federal and state legislation defines the primary goal of foster care as reunification of a child with their natural parents. With reunification as the priority, fostering to adopt is in contradiction with the responsibility of a foster parent. However, recent trends in foster parent rights confirm the reality of "foster to adopt" practices by allowing foster parents to intervene in the family's child protection court case. Many states have established the right of foster parents to intervene via statute and case law. This article will examine In re R.J. to address where Illinois stands on foster parent intervention.

First Page

95

Recommended Citation

Olivia McGrath, The Role of Foster Care: How Foster Parent Intervention Affects the Child Welfare System, 44 CHILD. LEGAL RTS. J. 95 (2024).
Available at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/clrj/vol44/iss2/6