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-A

Current through June 25, 2024
You have rights and responsibilities while you are
						involved with the 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 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. 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.
* This right may be withheld by the
								  judge.
** In emergency situations we may not be
								  able to notify you.
_______ / _______ __________
Client(s) initials
Worker
						initials
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.
_______ / _______ __________
Client(s) initials
Worker
						initials
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.
______ / _______ _________
Client(s) initials
Worker
						initials
TERMINATION OF SERVICES:
Services provided by DFCS may be ended for the following
						reasons:
1. Your Family Service Plan has been successfully
						completed and your child is returned home safely.
2. Legal custody is given to someone other than you by
						the court.
3. Your child becomes an adult.
4. You choose to give up your rights as a parent.*
5. The court ends your rights as a parent.*
* The court can order continued services in all
								  of these situations except those involving the surrender or termination of
								  parental rights.
______ / _______ __________
Client(s) initials
Worker
						initials
The court of your county has the authority to
						modify any of the statements above.
Client(s):
________________ /
						__________________
Date:
__________________
Worker:
__________________