F O R Y O U R I N F O R M A T I O N
CONSOLIDATION OF TWO FORMS INTO
A REVISED FORM DCFS 4360
REVISION OF FORM DCFS 4316
The DCFS 4360, Transportation Request, has been revised and consolidated with the DCFS 4338, Juvenile Court Alert Regarding Special Needs Children. This revised and consolidated form is now the DCFS 4360, Request for Juvenile Court Transportation and Shelter Care (see attachment).
The DCFS 4316, Court Transportation Procedure Notice, is also revised (see attachment).
These changes have been generated so that less time and effort would be required to provide the needed data.
Attachments
/ / BES CONTACT: Ramona Wilson (213) 351-5719
APPROVED: ______
Paul V. Freedlund, Deputy Director
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
REQUEST FOR JUVENILE COURT TRANSPORTATION AND SHELTER CARE
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TRANSPORTATION REQUEST
ALERT REGARDING A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD
COURT TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES NOTICE
The child being placed with you today is in the temporary custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. It is a Dependency Court policy that children age four years or older be present at the detention hearing, which is held three court days after the child entered protective custody. For example, a child placed on a Friday will be scheduled for a detention hearing on the next Wednesday (weekends and holidays are not counted). At the detention hearing, the child will have an opportunity to speak to his/her assigned attorney. The Hearing Officer will consider the allegations and decide whether or not the child will stay in placement. Following the hearing, the child may be permitted to visit with family members, as directed by the court.
Children must also be present at other types of hearings, known as adjudication, jurisdictional/dispositional and contested status review hearings. The Children's Social Worker (CSW) will let you know when hearings are scheduled and is responsible for arranging the child's transportation to court.
Court Transportation personnel will call you the day before the hearing to confirm that the child will be picked up between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the next day. Please have the child appropriately dressed (see "Clothing" on page 2-3) and fed before 7:00 a.m. to prevent delays. Provide the Court Transportation Worker with a telephone number(s) where you can be reached at all times during the day of the hearing. The child may be returned to your home any time of the day, from morning to early evening, after the hearing. Unfortunately, specific arrival or return times cannot be guaranteed. Court Transportation Workers are picking up children throughout the entire County of Los Angeles. If you cannot be available for the entire day, arrangements must be made in advance with the CSW. Should an emergency arise after the child has been picked up which will prevent you from being home when the child returns from court, call Court Transportation immediately. The telephone number is (213) 526-6771.
Children may be returned only to a licensed foster care placement. If it is not the child's own placement, prior CSW approval is required. Children may not be returned to their school, place of employment or your place of employment.
TRANSPORTATION
Court Transportation will not transport children who:
(OVER)
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•are a danger to themselves or others;
•are under the age of four years;
•have special circumstances, such as: illness; recent exposure to chicken pox (or not completely healed from the illness); active tuberculosis (TB); any signs or symptoms of lice, scabies, or ringworm; children in diapers, or seriously handicapped (children in wheelchairs can be provided prearranged access van services); or
•have any transportation need other than a Dependency Court hearing.
Court Transportation Workers are unable to transport luggage or any of the child’s possessions. Should the child be released from court to a parent or other party, the CSW is responsible for making arrangements to obtain the child’s possessions.
MEDICATION
If the child is taking medication, send a dosage sufficient for a 12-hour period. Transportation Workers are only authorized to accept medication which was prescribed for the child by a licensed physician or dentist. The following procedures are required to transport medication:
•send the medication in the prescription container, clearly labeled with the child’s name, the name of the medication, dosage instructions, expiration date, and the physician’s name;
•remove from the container all the medication that is more than a 12-hour dosage;
•Tell the Transportation Worker which child is to receive the medication;
•Give any medical equipment (diabetic testing kit, etc.) to the Transportation Worker; and,
•Share all information regarding the child’s special needs with the Transportation Worker (examples: epileptic seizures, severe temper tantrums, etc.)
CLOTHING
The child must be dressed appropriately for court. The following guidelines will be enforced and a child may be asked to change, if the guidelines are not followed:
•Clothing is to be modest.
•Children are to be dressed appropriately for the weather conditions. In cold weather, children need sweaters, jackets and socks. In hot weather, the court building is air-conditioned, which, at times, requires a sweater for comfort.
•No low-cut or see-through blouses, tank tops, shorts, excessively baggy clothing, or clothing which reveals the child’s stomach, back, chest, bra straps, etc. are permitted.
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I
•gang-affiliated clothing is not permitted in court. Hats may not be worn.
It is requested that you share with the children the guidelines on appropriate dress. It is understood that some children, particularly adolescents, may be reluctant to follow the dress code guidelines, but it isimportant for them to understand their responsibility to appear in court appropriately dressed. Activities and adult supervision are provided in the Shelter Care area. Children are not permitted to bring games, toys or personal effects of value. To assist in communicating directly with the children, headphones are not allowed in Shelter Care. The children are not permitted to have medication, cigarettes, or alcohol in their possession. No one is permitted to smoke.
PREPARING THE CHILD
A court appearance may be a frightening and confusing experience for a child. You can assist the child and DCFS if you will follow these guidelines:
•Do not send the child to school on the day of the hearing.
•Advise the child of the upcoming hearing.
•Share the following basic information with the child:
•(S)he may be asked where (s)he wants to live.
• (S)he will have an attorney to help him/her say what (s)he thinks.
•As a rule, no detailed testimony will be required (the CSW will probably have explained this already, but it is worth repeating).
•(S)he may see his/her parent in the court room, but they must wait until after the court proceedings to visit.
•The court sometimes gives permission for the child to visit with family in Shelter Care for a brief time.
• (S)he will remain in the care of DCFS staff throughout the day.
•Children’s Court Shelter Care staff will provide the child with snacks and lunch.
•Shelter Care staff have activity areas offering outdoor play with volleyball/basketball and a climbing gym, games, arts and crafts, computers, and many other activities. An interesting, quiet library is available for reading or doing homework assignments.
As the foster care provider, you are an invaluable resource to the child in crisis. Your efforts in preparing the child for a day at court and being available for his or her return will join our efforts to assist the child to deal more effectively with the court experience.
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