CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

Section 4, Chapter 7 (Family Support Teams), Subsection 6 – FST Timeline and Exceptions

Effective Date:  1-30-2026

 

4.7.6 FST Timeline and Exceptions

 

Initial FST

  • Held before or within 24 hours following the Protective Custody hearing as required by Section 210.762 RSMo.

 

Goal Planning FST

  • Held at approximately 2 weeks, but not to exceed 30 days following the child’s placement out of the home, and every 30 days until adjudication occurs.

 

Hearing Preparation FST

  • Held approximately 30 days prior to each hearing after adjudication for the remainder of the case.

 

Permanency Finalization FST

      Held:

  • At 14 months following the child’s initial placement out of the home.
  • When a child has been on a Trial Home Visit for 3 months.

 

Placement Planning FST

      Held:

  • As soon as possible when there is indication of a potential placement disruption.
  • Within 72 hours following an emergency placement change as required by Section 210.762 RSMo.
  • Within 3 business days of a caregiver submitting a request to move the child.
  • Within 3 business days of discovering the location of a youth who is residing in an unapproved placement. Immediate action must be taken if it is believed the youth is unsafe. (CWM 4.4.8.4)
  • Within 3 business days upon the return or recovery of a missing youth. (CWM 4.4.8.5)
  • Within 72 hours of the child’s admittance to the hospital when a child does not have a placement to return to upon discharge. And as soon as possible when it is determined that a child’s expected placement is no longer an option at any time during the hospitalization. (CWM 4.2.5)
  • Within 1 business day when a placement is unable to be secured, and the child is hoteling.
  • Within 30 days of the final judgment of termination of parental rights when an adoption resource has not been identified.
  • Within 30 days of a permanency goal change to Guardianship when a guardianship resource has not been identified.

      Should be considered and is held at the Supervisor’s discretion when:

  • It is known that a positive placement change will occur. Refer to the Placement Planning FST Meeting section 4.7.7 for positive placement examples.

 

Older Youth Exit Planning FST

      Held:

  • Within 30 days before and not to exceed 30 days following the youth’s 15th, 17th, and 20th birthdays, regardless of permanency goal.
  • Before a recommendation is made to the court to release jurisdiction when the youth is aged 17+ and the youth’s permanency goal is not reunification.

 

At the Request of Any Member of the Family Support Team

  • Held at the earliest available time team members are able to convene and not to exceed 14 calendar days following the request.

 

FST Meeting Exceptions/Considerations

  • When the Goal Planning FST meeting and the Hearing Preparation FST meeting held prior to the Dispositional hearing fall within 30 days of each other, only one FST meeting is required, however both can be held at the team’s discretion.
    • If only one meeting is held, enter the meeting in the electronic case record as the Goal Planning FST meeting.
  • When a FST meeting is held in preparation for a hearing and the court grants a continuance of that hearing to be held at a later date, the Family Support Team may decide if another FST meeting is needed prior to that hearing.
  • Other hearing types or court actions may occur that are less prominent (e.g. Case Review Hearing). If a decision needs to be made by the team prior to those hearings, a FST meeting should occur prior to the hearing or court action. Otherwise, the team may determine that a FST meeting is not needed.
  • When Older Youth Exit Planning FST meetings fall within 30 days of a Hearing Preparation or Permanency Finalization FST meeting, the meetings may be held together. Enter the meeting in the electronic case record as the Hearing Preparation FST meeting. The worker should plan the meeting to allow sufficient time to accomplish both meeting agendas. The team may decide not to hold Older Youth Exit Planning Meetings when the youth is determined to be incapacitated.
  • For children in Legal Status 3 (Supervision Only), FST meetings should be held every 30 days until the FST members agree to hold them less often but should not exceed every 3 months.