CAREGIVER
RESOURCES
Communicating with the Court as Caregiver
Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers are one of the most important sources of information about the children in their care. You know the most about the child's current circumstances and needs. Courts, lawyers, CASAs, and social workers should have the benefit of your perceptions. The JV-290 Caregiver Information Form (included) is a simple form that helps you organize detailed information about the child and communicate with the court. Through the JV-290 form you can provide any information or concerns you may have to the juvenile court, the parties and their attorneys. By completing the JV-290 form, you will assist the judge to make informed decisions about the child and reach the best outcome regarding the child in your care. You may use the JV-290 form to describe the child and alert the court to potential placement disruptions, visitation issues, successes, improvements, and any unmet needs.
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Instruction Sheet for Completing JV-290 form:
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jv290info.pdf
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A fillable JV-290 form available online:
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jv290.pdf
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Spanish JV-290 Info form
Hoja de instrucciones para completar el formulario JV-290:
https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jv290infos.pdf
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Communicating with the Court as a Relative
Whether you are a relative of child that has been removed from the home who is caring for the child or a relative of a child that has been removed from the home that is not caring for the child, you are an important source of information about the child and parents. If you are a relative that is not caring for the child, you may still have important information about the child or parents.
The JV-285 Relative Information Form is a simple form that helps you organize detailed information about the child or parents and communicate with the court. Through the JV-285 form you can provide any information or concerns you may have to the juvenile court, the parties and their attorneys. You can also use this form to make specific requests about what you would like to do with the child or how you would like to help the child or parents. Relatives that are not able to have a child live with them may be able to have contact with the child or support the parents and child through their dependency case. For example, you can use the JV-285 form to inform the court you want to supervise parent’s visits, have contact with the child or take the child from the foster home to family gatherings.
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A fillable JV-285 form available online:
http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jv285.pdf
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Spanish JV-285
Hoja de instrucciones para completar el formulario JV-285:
https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/jv285s.pdf
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File a complaint about lawyer
Providing great legal representation is important to us! If you have a complaint about CLS's performance on a case, please contact the supervisor so that your concern can be addressed. To be connected with the supervisor for the case, you can call our main number at: (858) 221-0404.
The San Diego Superior Court also has a complaint process. The steps for filing a complaint with the court are located in Rule 6.4.1: 2024_division_vi_-_juvenile.pdf (ca.gov).
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Family Urgent Response System (FURS)
Are you a caregiver of a current or former foster youth?
Are you feeling frustrated? Would you like additional support?
FURS is available 24/7 for support.
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/furs
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Foster Parent Mentor Program at Grossmont College:
If you are a foster parent licensed through the County of San Diego, you qualify for this unique program designed to increase retention and placement stability of foster care placements.
To have a mentor assigned to assist with issues like systems problems, personal problems, child or biological parent problems, and help in finding resources, call: (800) 200-1222.
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Kickstart:
Kickstart is a diverse clinical team specially trained to educate the community, treat youth and assist families in preventing psychosis. We serve young people ages 10 to 25, their families, and their social networks to build support around the youth and promote success in relationships, education and employment.
RESPITE CARE
Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Care at Grossmont College:
If you are a foster or kinship parent who has a child placed through the County of San Diego Juvenile Court Dependency Section, call Maxim Companion Services to arrange FREE respite care: (866) 233-1913
YMCA Kinship Support Program:
If you are a relative raising a child such as a grandparent, aunt or uncle; you are a kinship caregiver. Kinship caregivers often find it difficult to access services on their own due to the complex nature of the service system. Kinship caregivers need additional information and support to connect with services for themselves and their family members. Kinship navigators are there to assist individual kinship caregivers in a wide variety of ways.
For relative caregivers: 1-877-YMCA-4-KIN
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If you have general questions about kinship services, please call 619-543-9850 or send us an email at kinshipyfs@ymca.org.
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Advokids
https://www.advokids.org/legal-tools/information-for-caregivers/information-for-caregivers-jv-290/
Advokids is a hotline, website, and legal resource that equips child advocates with the legal and scientific principles that they need so that they can more effectively advocate for the well-being of the child and encourage persistent judicial focus on every foster child’s need for safety, emotional security, and developmental health.