In a crisis, you as a foster parent will almost always need to contact your foster child’s placement worker (from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services or Juvenile Court Services) and your Family Connections case worker.

When you receive a placement, make sure you have the emergency contact numbers for the worker and keep this information in a convenient and accessible place.

If you are unable to contact your child’s HHS worker or your case worker,  please contact the on-call number for HHS or Four Oaks Family Connections.

If you need to report child abuse or neglect, please call the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services child abuse hotline at 1.800.362.2178.

DHS Service Numbers:

DHS: 1-800-362-2178

Four Oaks Family Connections: 877-364-1113

Here is some guidance on how to handle the following kinds of crises:

If your family has an emergency such as a death or severe illness in your family; a need to travel to be with an ailing parent; or other emergency, call your Family Connections case worker.

Together you can determine if you need respite so you can address the situation, if your family needs to be placed on hold for a time, or if your current foster placements may need to be moved to another home as your family deals with the emergency. Please remember the child’s placing worker will need to approve any move of the child, such as going to respite or moving to another home.

If you feel you cannot have the child remain in your home, let the HHS worker know. Then contact your Family Connections case worker so we can help find temporary respite for the child until the HHS worker can make a referral for another home.

In a medical emergency, there are situations where you will need to obtain medical treatment immediately (such as calling 911 for a car accident or life-threatening illness). You’ll also need to contact the child’s HHS worker as well as the birth family. Please also contact your Family Connections support worker so they can support you as needed.

If you are unable to reach the child’s worker (or supervisor), you can also call your Family Connections case worker (or supervisor), and we will assist you in locating a HHS supervisor.

If a child in your care treats someone in your family inappropriately (either physical aggression or sexual contact), contact the child’s HHS worker and your Family Connections support worker to help you develop a safety plan to keep all children in your home safe.

Please contact the child’s HHS worker (or supervisor) immediately. Depending on the circumstances, it may be appropriate to contact law enforcement immediately as well. Please also contact your Family Connections support worker so we can help you as needed.  You would also contact the child’s family of origin.

Please contact the child’s HHS worker (or supervisor) immediately;  the worker will then decide next steps. Your Family Connections support worker will also be there for you to help support.

If behavior warrants, call law enforcement. Next, call your child’s HHS worker. You may also wish to call your Family Connections case worker or the child’s FCS worker (Family Centered Services) or BHIS worker (Behavioral health intervention services) if they have one.

There is foster parent insurance available through a HHS contractor to help foster parents with these types of claims. Contact your Four Oaks Family Connections support worker to get the insurance claim information.

Please contact your Family Connections case worker to help you navigate the situation.

Please contact your Family Connections case worker so they can help you navigate the system, find available resources, or advocate on your behalf.

Please contact your Family Connections case worker so they can help you navigate the system or resolve this situation.

Please contact your Family Connections case worker. You may also need to find out what policies your child’s school or daycare has regarding lic or bed bugs. If you are having problems with bed bugs, your Family Connections case worker will likely encourage you to call a pest control company and can give you the contact information for your foster parent insurance provider so you can check if your situation will be covered.