Manual for Grandparent-Relative Caregivers and Their Advocates
Table of Contents
 

	About the Grandparents Manual
History of the Grandparents Manual How to use this Manual Preface to the Second Edition
	Introduction
	Guardianships
What is a guardianship? Why would I want to become a legal guardian? Is there a way to set up a guardianship in advance? What are my rights and responsibilities as a guardian? How do I establish a legal guardianship for this child? I am not a relative of the child. Can I become a guardian? What can I do if I cannot pay for court fees when I apply for guardianship? Where do I get an application for the fee waiver? During the period of the guardianship, what visitation rights do the minor's parents have? What rights do I have as the legal guardian if the parent refuses to be cooperative? What can I do if I must keep the parent away from the child? What if I oppose the return of custody to the parents? How do I have a guardianship terminated?
	Dependency Proceedings
Under what circumstances does a child become a dependent of the court? What steps can be taken to avoid a child becoming a dependent of the court? What other services are available for grandparents to be involved in? If a grandchild is removed from a parent's custody and made a dependent of the court, can the child be placed with his or her grandparent? What should a grandparent do if he or she wants to be considered as a relative placement? How do dependency proceedings affect Native American children? Can a grandparent and other relative caregivers participate in a juvenile court proceeding? I am taking care of a dependent child, although I am not a blood relative of the child or a foster parent. What participation am I allowed to have in the dependency proceeding? If I am the foster parent of the dependent child, do I have the right to participate in the proceedings? What happens if the child is involved in proceedings in another state?
	Getting a Child out of a Shelter
What happens if the parent is arrested while away from the child? What do you do if the child is placed in an emergency shelter? What happens to children if a relative cannot pick them up within 72 hours? Who needs to be present at the detention hearing? What happens at the jurisdictional hearing? What happens at the dispositional hearing? If my child is an incarcerated parent, what rights does he or she have once my grandchild is placed in foster care? What happens at a periodic review hearing? If my adult child is incarcerated, how does he/she get to the juvenile court hearing? What preparation is needed for the juvenile court hearing? What happens at the permanency planning hearing? How does a parent get the child back once the parent returns from prison?
	Visitation Rights of Grandparents
How do courts decide cases involving the care of children? Can a grandparent get visitation rights when the parents divorce, legally separate, or get an annulment? What must I do to get visitation? Why does the court order mediation? What will happen at the mediation? Do I have visitation rights in these proceedings if I am not the child's grandparent? What if I already have an order giving me visitation rights with my grandchild and the parent is trying to undo the order to prevent my visits? Can a grandparent whose own daughter or son has died be granted visitation rights with the grandchild? Under what other situations might a grandparent be granted visitation? How are a grandparent's visitation rights affected when his or her adult child's parental rights are terminated? What visitation rights does a grandparent have when the parents of the minor child were not legally married? If grandparents suspect that the child's father is not the real father, can they challenge his paternity?
	When Permanent Custody is Necessary
Can grandparents or other relatives get custody of grandchildren without the parents' consent? Can a grandparent who has guardianship of a grandchild be required to return the child to the parents?
	Adoption
Can a grandparent of a deceased parent get visitation rights when the minor grandchild is adopted? What happens to the grandparents' visitation rights when the minor's parent is living and the grandchild is adopted by the other set of grandparents? Can grandparents participate in the adoption proceedings of their grandchild by the other set of grandparents?
	Foster Care
What is foster care? What are some of the advantages of becoming a foster parent? What are some of the disadvantages of becoming a foster parent? What are the criteria for becoming a foster parent? Is foster care available to relatives?
	Public Benefits
What kind of help can I get while I am taking care of a child in need? What is CalWORKs, and am I eligible for CalWORKs? What if I am not a citizen? Can I get CalWORKs? How do I apply for CalWORKs? How can I prepare a "Power of Attorney" agreement? How long does it take to process a CalWORKs application? What can I do if my application is denied? How do I request a state hearing? What is the Food Stamps program and am I eligible to receive participate? How do I apply for the Food Stamps program? What is Medi-Cal? What is Healthy Families? Are there other health programs? Can I and a child in my care qualify? Can I get help with child care expenses? What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and how can it help my child? What is California’s Cash Assistance Program for immigrants (CAPI)? I have heard that the SSI process is very long and time consuming. We are just on the borderline for financial eligibility. Should I apply for SSI? What are the State AFDC-Foster Care and the Federal AFDC-Foster Care programs? What is Kin-GAP? What is the Adoption Assistance Payment Program? Power of Attorney Form
	Relative Caregiver Options Chart
	School Issues
Do I need to be a legal guardian to enroll my grandchild? How do I register my grandchild in school? At what age can children be enrolled in school? What are my responsibilities as a guardian regarding school attendance? Are there any exceptions to compulsory school attendance? What should I do if my grandchild cannot attend school? Will I be notified if my grandchild does not go to school? What types of immunizations are required to enroll a child in school? Are there any exceptions to the immunization requirements? What kinds of schools may children attend? Are there programs for pre-school children? What is the purpose of Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs? What should I do if I think my grandchild may have a disability? What kinds of programs are available for children with a disability? I am concerned about my grandchild’s privacy. Who will see the information regarding the evaluation? If I am unable to take my grandchild to school, is transportation available? What types of discipline will the school use? If my grandchild needs medication can s/he receive it at school? Are there any school food programs? What types of child care programs are available? How can I find these child care programs? Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit
	Statewide Listings for County Boards of Education
	Resource Guide Statewide
	Resource Guide Northern California
	Resource Guide Central California
	Resource Guide Southern California

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