An Overview of the California Foster Care SystemNavigating the System

Child Welfare Services (CWS) This system is the safety net for protecting neglected

and abused children Is a complex array of programs and services

A primary CWS service and program is foster care

The 24-hr out-of-home care provided to children in need of substituting parenting because their own families are unable or unwilling to care for them

The primary entryway into foster care

Navigating the System Many players have a role in providing for the safety,

permanence, and well-being of children The federal level

United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children, Youth, and Families

The state level

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS)

The Foster Care Ombudsman Office

The county level

The county social services department

The county probation department

The juvenile court

Federal Level The United States Department of Health and Human

Services, Administration of Children, Youth, and Families Oversees state CWS/foster care

Issues regulations and policy

Conducts compliance reviews

Allocates CWS and foster care funds to the state

State Level The California Department of Social Services (CDSS)

Supervises county administration of CWS/foster care and allocates federal and state funds

The Foster Care Ombudsman Office An autonomous entity within the California Department of Social

Services

Investigates complaints and resolves concerns related to foster care

Staff includes former foster youth

County Level Each county has flexibility in how it operate the CWS

program Counties can differ in demographics, administrative

structure, or childcare philosophy Key county players

County agencies

Public and private service agencies

Caregivers / families

County Level The county social services department

Provides management for dependent children (children who have been removed from the custody of their parents by the juvenile court)

County social workers provide emergency response, assessment, and case management service

The county probation department Provides case management for wards (youth in the juvenile justice system who are on

probation)

Probation officers provide the same services to wards in the foster care system as social workers provide to dependents

The juvenile court Determines if a child needs protection and makes decisions about the child’s future

References Foster, Lisa K. Foster Care Fundamentals: An Overview

of California's Foster Care System. California State Library, California Research Bureau, 2001.