Permission to cross state lines?

Yes, this is typical. The state has legal custody of the child while she is in foster care, so everything she'd ask a parent for permission to do, she likely now has to as "the state" for permission to do. Travel across state lines, get a driver's license, get a passport, change schools, sign up for skydiving lessons, etc. Most states have blanket laws and rules that apply to all children in foster care. One of the common ones is "no traveling across state lines without permission". Another common one is "no spending the night somewhere unless the adults in that home have had some sort of clearance" (that's a child abuse clearance check, background check, something like that). So don't be surprised if that becomes an issue, too. In areas close to state lines the child can sometimes be granted a clearance to travel to the other state (or parts of the other state) that lasts for a number of days or months. Like the ability to travel from NJ to Philadelphia as needed for the 2011 calendar year, or something like that. Sometimes the child's case worker is the one who grants the permission, sometimes it's a court judge who grants the permission - depending on several factors. The child also has foster parents (or group home administrators, etc) whose house rules have to be followed. So permission to travel somewhere that was granted by the case worker does not mean she can do it whenever she wants - she still needs permission from the people who care for her on a daily basis, too. Hope that helps! Post back if you have more questions.

I live in Pa and we needed to have permission to cross state lines. we live close to the new york, new jersey border. I never knew there was a rule until I wanted to take the kids to the caribbean on vacation so I mentioned it in passing to the social worker and she said she would ask mom or get a court order. i was like really?! Yeah thats when I found out that all the state border crossing was a no no (theoretically at least!)

She is right. But permission can usually be gotten easily.

yes; she does. The cw needs to know where the kid is at. I'm in NY and when I took my then fs to Chicago, I gave her the address and 2 more phone numbers to reach me.

I'm in Jersey and travelled quite a bit with my fosterchildren (FL, VA, MI, Bahamas, etc). When I left the state I had to get the parents and CW permission. If parents wouldn't approve (and that did happen sometimes), the CW would get the permission from the judge. For bordering states like PA, NY I had blanket permission to travel there for up to 2 nights as I have family there. I gave the SS #s for my family members to get this approval. Didn't have to give anything else. Technically, when you have overnight guests in your home you're supposed to let the CW know that too...

I live on the Delaware River and cross into PA a couple of times a week. I got a letter from the judge granting me permission to do so and the letter included permission to go into New York as I often go there on business. In my case, the CW would not grant permission, but the judge was happy to do so. Get whatever it is in writing, just to be sure.Good Luck!

Thanks everyone for your replies. Do you think it would be ok if I wrote the parents a letter? My daughter and her friend have become really good friends. My daughter asked her friend if she could stay over at our house in PA (just across border from NJ) and her friend replied "it is just too much trouble to seek permission!"

If your daughters friend wants to stay she can ask her FM to ask her caseworker. You may have to give your SS# and those of all living in your home. That will allow the state to do quick check to ensure there's no one with a record, etc.

Well, I did write the parents a letter...and already got a response. Too much trouble to get "court order" for permission - so parents respectfully decline. W hat a shame.

Why does there have to be a court order for permission? Is this a state thing? That's sad. Hunterdon: Why wouldn't the CW give permission? did he/she say?

Unfortunately, my son's CW would often just not respond to these types of requests. We needed a court order for my son to be able to play basketball at school, go to NYC to see a Broadway show (school trip), go on vacation out of the state and so on. All things the CW could have approved or denied but we would get no response. I learned to request these things months in advance so, after a couple of emails and phone calls didn't get any response, I would have time for the next court hearing to come up so I could ask the judge. She would then ask the CW and then the permission would come in the form of a court order. Crazy! :grr:

Is everyone commenting here from NJ? Because our experience is entirely different. We take our foster kids to NY all the time and we never have to notify DYFS unless we're staying overnight - In which case we just drop the CW an e-mail or a phone message. It's that simple. Only if we are to stay more than 3 nights do we need to get permission from the birth parent. We've had no problems taking our kids to my parents' in NY on a regular basis and no one has ever mentioned that I need permission for my kid to go on school field trips to NY which he's done several times. BTW, the workers have mentioned that all we really have to do is show that we've "tried" to notify/get permission. In other words as long as we're not going for a long time, if we are able to show that we sent an e-mail or left a voice mail that's good enough - We don't have to wait for some official okay from DYFS.

Yes, I'm from New Jersey. It just shows how different things can be from county to county and office to office. Even CW to CW can be different. Glad to hear you experience is going well!