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What is a "Child
Placement Agency"?
A Child Placement Agency - or "CPA"
is a non profit organization; licensed by the State of Colorado Human Services (CDHS) to recruit, screen, train, certify and
supervise foster families and the care they provide foster children.
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Most children in foster care are placed with relatives or foster families. While a child
is in foster care, he or she attends school and receives medical care and other services as necessary. The child's family
also receives services to support their efforts to reduce the risk of future maltreatment and to help them, in most cases,
be reunified with their child. Parents may visit their children on a predetermined basis. Visits are also arranged
between siblings, if they cannot be placed together.
How
long does a child stay in foster care?
Every child in foster care should
have a 'permanency plan' that describes where the child will live after he or she leaves foster care. Except in unusual
and extreme circumstances, every child's plan is first focused on reunification with parents. If efforts toward reunification
are not successful, the plan may be changed to another permanent arrangement, such as adoption or kinship care
(custody to a relative). Long-term foster care (until emancipation) is typically only for older children who have become
strongly attached to the family and/or for whom a suitable adoptive home cannot be found.
Federal law requires
the court to hold a permanency hearing, which determines the permanent plan for the child, within 12 months after the
child enters foster care and every 12 months thereafter. Many courts review each case more frequently to ensure that
the agency is actively engaged in permanency planning for the child.
Have
a question for us? Use the form below, and we'll contact you with the answer!
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I thought
that DSS had their 'own' foster care homes, programs and services?
Yes
and No. Several larger County Departments do have their own. However, at times they may not have an availability,
or the child requires a higher level of care due to emotional, mental medical or physical problems. Some children may
need to be moved to another location or County for various safety concerns.
Many CPA foster parents have additional
training and/or experience with working with more challenging behaviors or "high level needs".
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Contact us with questions or comments:
719-543-8965
Fax: 1-877-543-7296 Toll Free
or mail: 503 N. Main Street, Suite 432 Pueblo,
CO 81003
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JOURNEYS, Inc., CPS
Copyright 2009-2010
For questions or comments regarding this website... click:
Ms. W. B. Master  |
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