Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 6 - Division of Family and Children's Services › Chapter 1 - DFCS Policy Manual › Section 18-6-1-D - Foster Care Policy › Section 18-6-1-D-XII - APPENDICES › Appendix 18-6-1-D-XII-L - NOTICE OF RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES FOR YOUTH 14 AND OLDER IN FOSTER CARE

Current through June 25, 2024
These are the rights and responsibilities for youth
						fourteen (14) and older in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Human
						Services. The normal hours of operation for the DFCS are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00
						p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. In case of emergencies,
						contact may be made after hours, weekends, and/or on state holidays at
						1-800-222-8000.
YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT
TO:
1.
Know why you are in foster care and how
						we will meet your needs.
2.
Know what progress your family will have
						to make before you may return home.
3.
Visit with your family unless the youth
						court judge says that you cannot.
4.
Know your social worker, to know his/her
						supervisor, to know their office phone numbers and addresses, and to know how
						to get help from your social worker.
5.
Be free from abuse, neglect and
						exploitation.
6.
To fair treatment, whatever my gender,
						gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability,
						medical problems, or sexual orientation.
7.
Not receive any harsh, cruel, unusual,
						unnecessary, demeaning, or humiliating punishment. This includes not being
						shaken, hit, spanked, or threatened, forced to do unproductive work, be denied
						food, sleep, access to a bathroom, mail, or family visits as punishment. You
						will not receive remarks that make fun of you or your family or any threats of
						losing your placement or shelter.
8.
Be disciplined in a manner that is
						appropriate to how mature you are, you developmental level, and your medical
						condition. You must be told why you were disciplined. Discipline does not
						include the use of restraint, seclusion, corporal punishment or threat of
						corporal punishment.
9.
Expect a safe and healthy place to stay
						while you are away from your home and to know all the rules and regulations of
						your placement.
10.
Take part in decisions made about you,
						to attend court hearings unless the youth court judge says you cannot, to
						attend foster care review conferences and to participate in designing your
						Family Service Plan (FSP).
11.
An advocate who represents your best
						interests in court (Guardian Ad Litem) and to have contact information for
						him/her and the right to counsel.
12.
Know when your placement or your visits
						with your family are about to change. (Your social worker will tell you as soon
						as they know there will be a change.)
13.
Participate in Independent Living
						activities such as skills groups and retreats to help prepare you to live on
						your own if you cannot return home.
14.
Be treated with dignity and respect and
						receive services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national
						origin, sex, age, disability, or political affiliation.
_____________________ ____________________
Client initials
Worker
						initials
YOU HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY
						TO:
1. Let someone know if you feel you have been treated
						unfairly by:
* Talking with your social worker about the problem.
* If the problem is not resolved, asking your social
						worker or another worker to arrange for you to talk with the ASWS.
* If the problem is still not resolved, asking the ASWS
						to let you talk with the RD.
* If there is still a problem, calling the state
						complaint/grievance unit at 1 -601-359-4330.
2. Participate in Independent Living activities such as
						skills groups and retreats to help prepare you to live on your own if you
						cannot return home.
3. Obey the rules and regulations of your placement and
						know what the consequences will be if you do not.
4. Understand that your behavior can disrupt your
						placement causing unnecessary moves.
5. Treat others with dignity and respect without regard
						to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or
						political affiliation.
____________________ _____________________
Client initials
Worker
						initials
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Your family's information is confidential and private.
						We will not disclose any information without your parent's written permission
						or by order of the court. However, information may be shared with law
						enforcement or the Office of the District Attorney without your parent's
						written permission. We may contact other people to assess your safety.
Confidentiality laws limit the information we can share
						with you. We are not able to name the reporter in any investigation, tell you
						what anyone else said, or give you a copy of any investigation.
______________
_____________
Client initials
Worker
						initials
Client: _________________________
Date: ___________________
Worker:
________________________
Date: ___________________