§ 397 Foster Care Data Reporting

• •County welfare or probation departments must send reports to the State Department of Social Services about kids in foster care.
• •The reports must include why the kid is in foster care, if the foster home is a good fit, and what the plan is for the kid (like going back home, getting adopted, or staying in long-term foster care).
• •The state decides how often and in what format these reports should be sent.

A 7-year-old kid named Jamie is placed in foster care because their parents can't take care of them.

The county welfare department has to tell the state why Jamie is in foster care, if the foster home is good for Jamie, and what the plan is for Jamie—like if they might go back home or get adopted.