| |
1. A court hearing was to be held during the evacuation of New Orleans or since, what should I do?
The Louisiana Supreme Court issued an order directing that all state courts in the effected areas of the state were closed due to extraordinary circumstances and all matters previously scheduled would be continued when courts and courthouses can be opened and official business resumed. Any prescribed time lines have been suspended, preserving the rights of all parties. Your child’s caseworker, CASA, attorney, or the court will notify you of the next scheduled hearing.
2. What should I do if my foster child needs services, clothes, and therapy or had family visits scheduled?
Foster parents with children placed from Jefferson, Plaquemine, St. Bernard and Orleans parishes should contact the Jefferson District OCS office where staff from those parishes are temporarily located. Your child’s worker may be temporarily working from another OCS parish or regional office but staff at the numbers below can either help you or get you in touch with your child’s caseworker. Ask to speak with someone in the foster care section from the parish you need.
If your foster child was placed from St. Tammany, Tangipahoa or Washington Parish, or from the Covington regional office, you should call your child’s caseworker at their regular parish or regional office number; if you know their direct desk/phone number try that number first.
If you are unsuccessful connecting with your child’s caseworker as above, contact the OCS Katrina Hotline. The Hotline staff may not be able to assist you directly, but they will insure that someone knowledgeable of the case contacts you.
*Jefferson District - (504) 736-7154
*Tangipahoa - (985) 748-2001000
*East Jefferson - (504) 736-7001
*Washington Parish - (985) 732-6800
*Covington Regional - (985) 893-6363
*OCS Katrina Hotline - (800) 259-3428
*St. Tammany - (985) 893-6225
3. The hurricane, my losses and the stress of relocation associated with Katrina have me reconsidering foster parenting, what should I do?
Contact your regional home development worker and discuss your circumstances. Call your regional foster parent association president, the national foster parent association or Placement Support Services in OCS State Office. Your certification might be eligible to be maintained even though you are currently unable to foster.
- National Foster Parent Association (800) 557-5238
- LA Foster Parent Association’s Advocacy Support Team - (888) 655-9564
- OCS Placement Support Services - (225) 342-4732
4. What should I do if my foster child’s medical card is not accepted in the state I am located in?
Arrangements have been made for all other states to recognize Louisiana’s Medicaid card. Furthermore, because the Medicaid computer system is national, you can bring your Louisiana card (or just the card number) to the Medicaid office in the state where you currently reside and a card from that state can be issued. Should you have problems, your foster child’s caseworker should be able to assist you
5. What can I do if my foster child needs clothes because of the hurricane?
Community resources have been established in most communities in the country because of the hurricane. Contact the Red Cross in the community where you are located. If available community resources cannot assist, your child may be eligible for a clothing replacement allowance; contact your foster child’s caseworker. Be sure to retain any receipts from purchases.
6. I plan to stay where I am until I am able to return to Louisiana. Our home was severly damanged or destroyed and it may be several months, or more than a year, or I plan to permanently relocate to where I am now. I will not be returning to Louisiana. Will my foster child have to return to ouisiana?
There are many factors that must be considered and each child’s situation will be assessed individually. There will be no single “OCS policy” for all children. During the forthcoming weeks your foster child’s caseworker, supervisor, district manager and other OCS staff will meet to begin this process; as always, your input will be solicited. The child’s case plan goal, the location of the birth parents if reunification is the goal, and the best interests of the child will guide decision making.
7. The area where I lived was evacuated because of the hurricane; we traveled to another location. Can I claim mileage or lodging expenses with the agency?
Evacuation was not a child specific expense and therefore, any expenses incurred for transportation or lodging are non-reimbursable as a foster care expense. However, your homeowner’s insurance, FEMA, or the Red Cross may compensate expenses incurred.
8. I plan to remain where I have relocated because of the hurricane; I would like to continue foster parenting in the state where I now live and provide care for children of this state.
Contact the child welfare agency where you now live as well as your regional home development worker in Louisiana. Together we may be able to assist you in having your home study and provider history accepted for consideration by your current state. While we will miss having you as a provider, we would like to have your training and experience be a resource for other children and their families.
9. My foster child’s board has, or will expire and I have not been able to contact their caseworker. What will happen?
Arrangements were made to extend Placement and Special Board Authorizations for children placed in Katrina and Rita affected parishes that were set to expire during August, September and October for an additional three months to assure that payments are not interrupted. If you feel that the board payment you received is incorrect, and you have been unable to contact your foster child’s caseworker, please contact the Katrina Hotline.
10. My foster child was receiving day care or respite services before the hurricane. How can I receive services in another state?
Contact your child’s caseworker to discuss your child’s current needs. You may qualify for services from the state you are currently residing in, or in some situations your foster child’s caseworker can request special approval from state office. |
