DCYF is committed to assisting these adults in finding connections to their past.
Records for children in care are not archived indefinitely. Unlike Adoption records, which have a permanent retention policy, the law has not protected records of children and youth who spent time in foster care. A foster care record search can be requested, however, the case record may be unavailable. You may be asked to provide:
- Name and birth date
- Parents' names and birth dates
- Siblings names and birth dates
- Names and locations of foster homes, group homes or institutions
- Other identifying information
- Release of Information
Staff may be able to direct your search to other sources such as:
- Vital records
- School and court records
- Social Security Administration
- Local town offices
By law (169-C:35-a) the Department must destroy records 7 years after the record is closed. Still, some older records may have been sent to storage and still available. If you are interested in searching for your records, please contact us.
Aftercare Services
Former foster children between the ages of 18 and 21 may be eligible for aftercare services, including assistance with education and housing. Visit the DCYF Aftercare Program page for more information.