Many parents wonder why they may need to fill out the Caregiver Information Form, also known as JV290. Only the foster parent can observe and record the child’s daily activities from the time he wakes up in the morning until he heads for bed in the evening — and often what happens in the middle of the night, as well! If done well, this information becomes a valuable part of the child’s file.

How do you do a good job on the Caregiver Information Form? Clear descriptions of children’s behavior, including what they say and the feelings they demonstrate, provide valuable information for the judge. In addition to the checklist and brief answers, foster parents can attach additional information that they think would be helpful.

For example: “Last week Marcus was very excited to see his mother. He kept running to the window asking when the social worker would arrive. After the visit he seemed sad. He wanted to sit in my lap and he sucked his thumb, which he doesn’t do much any more. He said that he doesn’t like it that he can’t see his mom more often. That night he wet the bed, which is also unusual.” This describes what Marcus did and said before and after the visit to his mother. The opinion that he was sad is supported by a description of variations in his behavior.

This is much more helpful to the judge than a report that Marcus “regresses” or “acts like a baby” after he visits his mother. The first step in understanding Marcus’s behavior is simply documenting what happens around the time of the visits. The next report describes his response to a missed visit: “Last week Marcus’s mother called to say she had to miss a visit because she was sick. (She told me that she had relapsed and was on restriction, but didn’t want Marcus to know that.) At first Marcus cried and said that his mom would get better and that they would go to the park. He woke up twice that night. In the morning he still seemed sad. He didn’t smile much and wouldn’t eat. When the social worker didn’t come Marcus became very angry. He kicked the couch, saying that she was stupid and it was her fault that he couldn’t see his mom. Eventually, he let me hold him until he fell asleep. After a couple of days he was eating and sleeping better, but still seemed a little quieter than usual.”

For more information on the legal aspects of JV290 and dealing with the court, visit Margaret Coyne’s blog on this site. You can also download a copy of JV290 by clicking here.