CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

210.122 Voluntary Placement Agreements

Voluntary placement agreements, children in state custody solely in need of mental health treatment — rulemaking authority. — 1.  As used in this section, “voluntary placement agreement” means a written agreement between the department of social services and a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child seventeen years of age or younger solely in need of mental health treatment.  A voluntary placement agreement developed under a department of mental health assessment and certification of appropriateness authorizes the department of social services to administer the placement and care of a child while the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child retains legal custody.

  2.  The department of social services may enter into a cooperative interagency agreement with the department of mental health authorizing the department of mental health to administer the placement and care of a child under a voluntary placement agreement.  The department of mental health is defined as a child-placing agency under section 210.481 solely for children placed under a voluntary placement agreement.

  3.  Any function delegated from the department of social services to the department of mental health regarding the placement and care of children shall be administered and supervised by the department of social services to ensure compliance with federal and state law.

  4.  The departments of social services and mental health may promulgate rules under this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.

(L. 2004 H.B. 1453 § 210.108)