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What is CAP?
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3
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• Part 1 - Did you know? What is a C.A.P.?

Many Arizona foster parents are unaware of many facts as they begin serving as licensed as foster parents. For instance, allegations can/do happen to good foster parents.

• FACT; allegations are a very real danger to every foster parent in our beautiful state
• of Arizona, as well as across this nation If the allegation; is a violation of the rules and regulations of your agency, depending on what the allegation consists of, they may decide to offer you a C.A.P. Before explaining what a C.A.P. is first you must understand your agencies involvement in the allegation process. Each allegation called into to the hotline, and/or the agency will be followed by an investigation. Once the investigation is completed, your agency must take some form of action. C.A.P. stands for a Corrective Action Plan. An allegation cannot remain open in an agencies files; they must  take some sort of disciplinary action to close it. If the decision is returned as substantiated, this is after the investigation, you are determined responsible for some form of "child abuse". Depending upon the seriousness of the allegation, they may offer you a C.A.P. Although, it is an option open to your agency, and a way of keeping you functioning as a foster parent, for you to maintain your foster care license, it is in essence a confession.
• WARNING; If you actually violated their rules and regulations, this may be an option, but if the outcome of the investigation is wrong it is not a remedy. Do not take this option.

Make sure it is an accurate statement of the facts, not exaggerated, or a lie, but the truth, just the facts period.

                              TIP; make sure that you agree with ever word in it before you sign it.

One more thing you need to be aware of; if the decision is substantiated your name can be placed on your State Child Abuse Registry. 

        If you found this information helpful in this series of questions, “Did you know”, let us know.

Subscribe to;  Foster Families Examiner, this way you’ll receive notification when articles are published.

Marilyn Harrison your Advocate

http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Phoenix-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m5d11-Foster-Parents-Did-you-know--Part-1-What-is-a-CAP

• Part 2 -

 Last time we described exactly what a C.A.P is; Let’s give you a little bit more information on this subject;

In the last article we mentioned; After they have determined you to be substantiated, you will receive your copy of the outcome of the investigation. The next step is be determined by the agency, your agency sometimes offers you a C.A.P. The alternative to a C.A.P, is an Administrative Inquiry/Hearing. You will be notified of the scheduled date when your Administrative Inquiry will take place and the next step would be an Administrative Hearing, depending of course on the outcome of the Administrative Inquiry.

•  Remember, a C.A.P. may offered at anytime.  

Now expounding on this explanation; if the evidence presented at the Administrative Hearing concludes with a substantiated decision then in essence, they have established that you did whatever the allegation consisted of. 

Let me ask you a couple of questions; Do you know what an Administrative Inquiry/Hearing is?  Do you know what it entails?  If you answered no to one or both of these questions, we urge you to subscribe to this Examiners articles.  This way you will be able to read all of the articles of interest to you, in this; Did you know, series.

Now let's go on; If you have a second or third allegation called into the hotline and/or your agency, within their time limit given, this allegation can be reopened. Your Arizona foster parent license will be in danger of revocation, simply because you have had multiple allegations; this is relatively new idea known as a preponderance of evidence. Their theory; where there is smoke there is usually fire.  Always remember the purpose is to protect the children within the Foster Care System.

REPEAT; One more thing you need to be aware of; if the investigation decision is substantiated your name can be placed on the  State Child Abuse Registry. 

                NOTE: We encourage you to leave a comment, let us know. Do you have a subject, or question that you would like to have answered, let us know. 

Subscribe to; Foster Families Examiner, you will receive notification of new articles as they are published.  Marilyn Harrison YOUR ADVOCATE

http://www.examiner.com/x-46864-Phoenix-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2010m5d11-Foster-Parents-Did-you-know--Part-2-What-is-a-CAP

Part 3 - Coming Soon