As a foster parent, you are required to keep a file on your child. Even if you are not required to do this at this time, it is in your best interest and your child’s. Should the placement not work out, you can pass this information along to your child’s next family.

What should you put in the file?

Copies of all school correspondence, including IEP paperwork, detentions, suspensions, report cards etc.

Dates and findings of doctors reports, lab tests, hospital visits, and other medical information.

Dates and details of behavioral issues and interventions.

Paperwork from court appearances, or hearings at social services (permanency planning meetings, or other required meetings).

Dates and results of any visits with birth family members. This includes both missed and kept appointments. Include where the visit was held, if anyone supervised the visit, if there was a “significant” conversation or discovery or if your child has difficulties after the visit. If there is other birth family contact such as phone contact or written communication these should be documented as well.

Any extra curricular activities your child is participating in.

List of all medications your child is taking, and any changes made to those
medications, along with reasons for changes.

Names, phone numbers and addresses of regular doctors and therapists.

Injuries your child has sustained, how they happened, where they happened and who caused the injury (if applicable). This is in part to help protect yourself in the event of an abuse investigation.

Details of any type of therapy or services your child receives. Whether it is with a psychologist, counselors, occupational or physical therapy, speech therapist or other type of professional, the reason for the service or therapy and any results or evaluations should be documented.

This file can be used in many different ways. If you proceed to adoption, you will have information necessary to negotiate your adoption subsidy. If your child moves to another home this information will help your child’s new family make the transition easier. You can begin to see patterns in your child’s behavior.

Hopefully you will never need the information, but someday you will probably find it helpful.

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