The Family Support Team shall meet to review the case plan and provide recommendations for the provision of services for children when the court has ordered a pre-custodial evaluation be completed.
Staff are to meet with the family within 24 hours of the initial placement and conduct Family Support Team meetings within 72 hours, and 30 days from the date of the initial placement in order to manage initial placement and visitation activities and to establish a case plan. Subsequent FST meetings are then to be held every thirty days until court adjudication and as needed, or required, thereafter.
FSTs should be held in order to make key decisions and for the purpose of:
- Determining service and treatment needs;
- Determining the need for placement and developing a plan for reunification or other permanency options;
- Determining the appropriate placement of the child;
- Evaluating case progress,
- Establishing and revising the case plan; and
- Discussing youth engagement in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities and exploration of additional opportunities of this nature (for each youth in the family in foster care).
Permanency Planning Reviews (Administrative Reviews) are to be conducted prior to the date of the child’s sixth month in care, and every six (6) months thereafter as long as CD has custody. PPRs are to determine:
- The safety of the child;
- The continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the placement;
- The extent of compliance with the case plan;
- The extent and progress which has been made in alleviating or mitigating the causes necessitating placement in foster care; and
- To project a likely date by which the child may be returned to and maintained in the home or placed for adoption or legal guardianship.
- To discuss youth engagement in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities and exploration of additional opportunities of this nature (for each youth in the family in foster care).
Two (2) weeks prior written notification must be given to the team participants, including the time and place of the review. Meetings should be scheduled when it is convenient for the youth and the family. If possible, all FST members should be accommodated, but the youth and the family are critical members of the team. The letter of notification to the parents must also include an explanation:
- Of the purpose of the FST/PPRT;
- That attendance is not a requirement, but is encouraged;
- The right of the parents to bring someone with them; and
- A copy of the CS-1 to be presented at the FST/PPRT, if required.
Upon appointment by the court to a case, the GAL is to be informed of and have the right to attend any and all FST/PPRT meetings involving the child.
The letter of notification to all other team members must also include a copy of the CS-1 to be submitted at the FST/PPRT, if required.
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)
Memoranda History: