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-A - Administration › Subpart II - SERVICE DELIVERY › Section 18-6-1-A-II-XII - CLIENTS' RIGHTS FOR PARENTS OR PRIMARY CARETAKERS OF CHILDREN IN CARE

Current through June 25, 2024
Within five calendar days of case opening, parents or
						primary caretakers shall receive a written summary of their rights and
						responsibilities which shall be fully explained using clear and consistent
						language. Parent/caretaker have the following rights:
* the right to regular visitation and other contacts,
						such as letters and telephone calls (unless ordered otherwise by the court);
* the responsibility to help financially support the
						child
* the responsibility to remember the child at birthdays
						and holidays;
* the right to participate in major decisions affecting
						the child and to be notified of changes in the casework plan;
* the right to assistance from the Worker to help them
						alleviate the problems which caused removal from the home;
* the right to participate in the development of an
						family service plan for parents;
* the responsibilities to fulfill their part of the
						family service plan for parents;
* the right to participate in the child's case reviews;
* the right to a two week notice prior to changes in the
						child's placement or visitation schedule;
* the right to know about the state law which mandates
						DFCS to secure permanency in 6 months;
* the right to attend/participate in child's permanency
						(dispositional) reviews;
* the responsibility to request/participate in Family
						Team Meetings.
The original of the signed Rights and Responsibilities
						form shall be filed in the case record and a copy given to the parent.
See
Policy Section D.
A.
Informing Parents of His / Her
					 Rights and Responsibilities.
The Worker will mail or deliver to the parent a copy of
						the Parents Rights and Responsibilities. The Worker will include a self-
						addressed stamped envelope so the parent can sign the R & R and return a
						copy to DFCS. Once the Parents R & R are received the Worker will document
						in MACWIS.
See
Policy Section D.
A written summary of client rights and their
						responsibilities must be posted in the reception areas of all service delivery
						locations. Client Rights and Responsibilities posters must be displayed
						prominently in all public areas of the county DFCS offices. Each county office
						shall designate a Worker to conduct a monthly facility walk through and to
						complete a checklist, which includes a question regarding whether the Client
						Rights and Responsibilities poster is posted in the lobby.
B.
Placement Cases
You have rights and responsibilities while you are
						involved with DFCS of Family and Children's Services (DFCS). These are the
						rights and responsibilities for parents and/or guardians of children who are in
						the custody of the MDHS. The normal hours of operation for 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. Regular
					 visits and other contact with your child, such as letters and telephone calls.
*
2. Give input into
					 decisions affecting your child.
3.
					 Identify and discuss your family's strengths and areas needing improvement with
					 your Worker to develop your Family Service Plan.
4. Expect your child to be free from abuse,
					 neglect and exploitation.
5.
					 Expect your child not to 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.
6. Expect your child to be disciplined in a
					 manner that is appropriate to how mature he/she is, his/her developmental
					 level, and his/her medical condition. Discipline does not include the use of
					 restraint, seclusion, corporal punishment or threat of corporal punishment.
7. Help decide the long term plan
					 for your child and to be notified of changes in the plan.
8. Have help in correcting the problems that
					 caused your child to be placed outside your home.
9. Have office phone numbers and office
					 addresses for your Worker and your Worker's supervisor.
10. Participate in your child's county
					 conferences and court hearings.
11. Refuse any service or treatment
					 recommended by DFCS unless court ordered.
12. Two weeks' notice before your child's
					 placement or visit schedule changes.
**
13. Ask to meet with your child's Resource
					 Parents.
14. Have your child's
					 Native American (Indian) ancestry recognized and respected. We will tell the
					 Bureau of Indian Affairs about our involvement with your family and follow the
					 tribe's decisions for handling your case.
15. Be treated with dignity and respect and
					 receive services without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national
					 origin, sex, disability, or political affiliation.
** In emergency situations we may not be
						able to notify you.
YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
						TO:
1. Help
					 financially to support your child
2. Remember your child on birthdays and
					 holidays with visits, gifts, calls, or cards.
3. Complete your part of your Family Service
					 Plan
.
This
may include
paying for the cost or part
					 of the cost of a task.
4. Ask for
					 and be a part of all Family Team Meetings.
5. Help develop your child's visitation plan.
6. Give 48 hours' notice if you
					 can't come to a visit with your child.
7. Give to your Worker the names, phone
					 numbers, and addresses of your relatives who may be able to care for your
					 child.
8. Give your Worker all
					 medical and educational information about your child.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Your family's information is confidential and private. We
						will not disclose any information without your 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 written permission. We may contact
						other people to assess the safety of your child.
Confidentiality laws additionally 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.