The coronavirus pandemic and the new restrictions in place to limit the spread of the infection have presented several difficulties for foster families in California, including how to manage visits between foster children and their families. And, according to this article from Mercury News, foster families have been receiving "mixed signals" from counties.
“I do not know how to comply to both conflicting requirements of the Centers for Disease Control and the foster care system,” Olsen said. “There doesn’t seem to be any guidance coming down about the foster care system and family visits. These visits are court-ordered, but wait — the county says the courts are closed. No one is dealing with the issue.”
Many counties have now issues orders temporarily suspending in-person, court-ordered visitation for foster children with their parents, siblings and others important to the child, encouraging the use of video conference instead.