How long does a child remain in foster care?
The answer to this question will in great part depend upon the specifics of each case. As mentioned, foster care is intended to be temporary with the highest priority given to the goal of returning a child home as soon as possible. Within 60 days of a child entering foster care, the foster care social worker develops a written service plan, which is submitted to the court, identifying problems that need to be addressed by the family and target dates for completion. Within 75 days of the child entering foster care, the juvenile court will hold a review called the dispositional hearing to review the service plan. A foster care review hearing to review progress made on the initial foster care service plan is then held within 6 months of the 75-day dispositional hearing. Finally, the permanency planning hearing, where action is to be taken by the court to achieve permanency for the child, is held within 5 months of the foster care review hearing and within 14 months of the child’s placemen
