Miss. Code. tit. 18, pt. 6, ch. 1, 18-6-1-D, 18-6-1-D-XII, app 18-6-1-D-XII-A
You have rights and responsibilities while you are involved with the DFCS of Family and Children's Services (DFCS). These are the rights and responsibilities for parents and/or guardians of children who are in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The normal hours of operation for the DFCS are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. In case of emergencies, contact may be made after hours, weekends, and/or on state holidays at 1-800-222-8000.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:
1. Regular visits and other contact with your child, such as letters and telephone calls.*
2. Give input into decisions affecting your child.
3. Identify and discuss your family's strengths and areas needing improvement with your worker to develop your Family Service Plan.
4. Expect your child to be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
5. Expect your child not to receive any harsh, cruel, unusual, unnecessary, demeaning, or humiliating punishment. This includes not being shaken, hit, spanked, or threatened, forced to do unproductive work, be denied food, sleep, access to a bathroom, mail, or family visits as punishment.
6. Expect your child to be disciplined in a manner that is appropriate to how mature he/she is, his/her developmental level, and his/her medical condition. Discipline does not include the use of restraint, seclusion, corporal punishment or threat of corporal punishment.
7. Help decide the long term plan for your child and to be notified of changes in the plan.
8. Have help in correcting the problems that caused your child to be placed outside your home.
9. Have office phone numbers and office addresses for your worker and your worker's supervisor.
10. Participate in your child's county conferences and court hearings.
11. Refuse any service or treatment recommended by DFCS unless court ordered.
12. Two weeks' notice before your child's placement or visit schedule changes.**
13. Ask to meet with your child's Resource Parents.
14. Have your child's Native American (Indian) ancestry recognized and respected. We will tell the Bureau of Indian Affairs about our involvement with your family and follow the tribe's decisions for handling your case.
15. Be treated with dignity and respect and receive services without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or political affiliation.
* This right may be withheld by the judge. ** In emergency situations we may not be able to notify you. |
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Client(s) initialsWorker initials
YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:
1. Help financially to support your child
2. Remember your child on birthdays and holidays with visits, gifts, calls, or cards.
3. Complete your part of your Family Service Plan. This may include paying for the cost or part of the cost of a task.
4. Ask for and be a part of all Family Team Meetings. 5. Help develop your child's visitation plan.
6. Give 48 hours' notice if you can't come to a visit with your child.
7. Give to your worker the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your relatives who may be able to care for your child.
8. Give your worker all medical and educational information about your child.
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Client(s) initialsWorker initials
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Your family's information is confidential and private. We will not disclose any information without your written permission or by order of the court. However, information may be shared with law enforcement or the Office of the District Attorney without your written permission. We may contact other people to assess the safety of your child.
Confidentiality laws additionally limit the information we can share with you. We are not able to name the reporter in any investigation, tell you what anyone else said, or give you a copy of any investigation.
______ / _______ _________
Client(s) initialsWorker initials
TERMINATION OF SERVICES:
Services provided by DFCS may be ended for the following reasons:
1. Your Family Service Plan has been successfully completed and your child is returned home safely.
2. Legal custody is given to someone other than you by the court.
3. Your child becomes an adult.
4. You choose to give up your rights as a parent.*
5. The court ends your rights as a parent.*
* The court can order continued services in all of these situations except those involving the surrender or termination of parental rights. |
______ / _______ __________
Client(s) initialsWorker initials
The court of your county has the authority to modify any of the statements above.
Client(s): ________________ / __________________ Date: __________________
Worker: __________________
Miss. Code. tit. 18, pt. 6, ch. 1, 18-6-1-D, 18-6-1-D-XII, app 18-6-1-D-XII-A