(a) Not later than January 1, 2017, the Department of Children and Families shall develop a notification of support to inform foster parents and relative caregivers of their privileges under various state programs. On and after January 1, 2017, the department shall provide a copy of the notification of support to foster parents and relative caregivers at the time of the placement of a child with the foster parent or relative caregiver and upon request of a foster parent or relative caregiver.

(b) The notification of support shall include, but need not be limited to, information regarding:

(1) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be a member of the child's placement and treatment teams and to be notified of and included in meetings scheduled by the department concerning the child;

(2) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to communicate with the child's social worker to share information regarding the child's domestic, social, educational, medical and mental health needs;

(3) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be timely notified of all court hearings and administrative case review meetings including, but not limited to, permanency hearings and hearings on motions to revoke commitment concerning a child in the care of the foster parent or relative caregiver;

(4) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be provided with information, support and guidance from professional service providers, including, but not limited to, referrals to other professionals regarding the child and assistance in identifying and obtaining services for a child in the care of the foster parent or relative caregiver;

(5) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to receive open and timely responses to requests for information or services that are relevant to the care of a child in the care of the foster parent or relative caregiver, including, but not limited to, access to a regional office on-call system and careline numbers to enable the foster parent or relative caregiver to contact professional staff after normal business hours;

(6) For a foster parent or relative caregiver who accepts an emergency placement, the foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be provided with information to meet the child's immediate needs not later than twenty-four hours after the time the child is placed or, if such information about the child is not available at the time of placement, not later than thirty days after the date of placement;

(7) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to have access to records pertaining to the domestic, social, educational, medical and mental health needs of a child placed or being considered for placement with such foster parent or relative caregiver, provided no information identifying the child's birth parents shall be disclosed without such birth parents' permission;

(8) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be provided information concerning the department's policies regarding the role and responsibilities of a foster parent or relative caregiver;

(9) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be provided appropriate training and support to enhance the parent's or caregiver's relevant skills in order to meet any post-licensing training requirements;

(10) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to express concerns about a child's treatment plan, advocate for services on behalf of a child, refuse to accept a child for placement, request removal of a child for good cause or communicate with a child's former foster parent, prospective adoptive parent, relative caregiver or birth parent without risk of retaliation by the department;

(11) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to seek assistance regarding the problem resolution process through the department's chain of command as described in the department's Foster Parent and Adoptive Parent Handbook; and

(12) The foster parent's and relative caregiver's privilege to be provided with a copy of the notification of support upon a child's placement with the foster parent or relative caregiver and at any time thereafter upon request of the foster parent or relative caregiver pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating or permitting a cause of action for a violation of any provision of this section.

(P.A. 16-11, S. 1.)