Relative Letter, Child in Foster Care, Search for Relatives.docVIP

{Local branch office name} {Street address} {City, state, ZIP code} {Date} Voice: Fax: {Relative name} TTY: {Street address} {City, State, ZIP code} Dear {Relative name}, My name is {caseworker name}. I am a caseworker for Oregon’s Department of Human Services (DHS). I am working with the child of the {case name} family. {child/children’s name} is/are currently in foster care and you are being contacted because your name was given as a person that may be a relative. Relatives play important roles in the lives of all children, but especially for a child who has been removed from his or her parents. For a child in foster care, relatives can help by providing information such as names of other possible relatives or significant persons in the life of the child and medical or family history information. Relatives can also provide important connections to a child through contact, visitation and in some instances, a place for a child to live. DHS places a high priority on searching for relatives of a child that has been placed in foster care, because the department gives placement preference to relatives. Children with strong family connections are often happier, better-adjusted and have a stronger sense of identity than those without. As a relative, we would like to know if you are willing to have yourself and home assessed as a possible place where {child/children’s name} can live. Attached to this letter is a form that let DHS know what kind of support you want to give {child/children’s name}. We would also like to know if you would consider having some type of contact such as writing letters, phone contact or visitation. I have attached a form that lets you indicate what kind of support you want to give {child/children’s name}. I am trying to gather as much information on as many possible relatives of the child as I can. It would be greatly appreciated if you will fill out the attached relative search information form listing any possible relatives