Should I attend court? Often I feel like the worker is discouraging me from attending.

Caregivers are encouraged to attend and are welcome at the child’s court hearings. Caregivers are entitled to notice of the child’s scheduled hearings. Caregivers are usually most interested in the six month reviews and the 12 month permanency hearings. We understand it may not always be possible for you to attend, due to your work schedule or other caregiving needs. It is also important to know that long wait times are not uncommon at court.

Many of the dependency courts schedule multiple hearings at the same time. The court then decides which hearings will go first. Sometimes there can be a lengthy wait for your foster child’s hearing (which may only last about 10 minutes). Sometimes the court continues the child’s hearing to another date. Whether you attend the hearing or not, we encourage all caregivers to complete the Caregiver Report to the Court form and provide it to the child’s assigned worker about 10 days prior to the hearing, or take it with you for distribution at the Court hearing. Obtain the Caregivers Report to Court here: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/office-of-the-secretary/forms (enter form # 15-313)