Effective Date: 1-30-2026
4.7.1 Activities in the First 30 Days
Each Family Support Team (FST) meeting has a specific purpose, therefore it’s important to make a distinction between activities appropriate for a FST meeting and activities which occur in other settings within the first 30 days. All activities should assist in the completion of the Diligent Search Efforts Reporting Form and Social Service Plan (SSP) required to be filed with the court within 30 days of the child entering alternative care.
- Meeting with the parent(s) within 24 hours of the child’s placement out of the home and weekly during the first 30 days provides opportunity to engage the parent in assessment of their family. During these visits, the worker must engage the family in completion of the Initial Family Assessment (IFA) and finalization of the Social Service Plan (SSP) and prepare the parent for success by providing education about their rights and the alternative care process. Documents and information to be shared with the parent, and/or guardian can be found in pages 1-6 of the Verification of Receipt of Documents (CD-301b). (CD-301b Instructions).
- Meeting with the child no later than the next business day after the child enters care provides opportunity for the worker to assess the child’s safety, observe and learn about the child, and to engage the child, as is age and developmentally appropriate, in the completion of the IFA and SSP. It provides opportunity for the worker to help the child adjust to the transition, educate the child about their rights, assist the child in understanding their case plan, and to voice their wishes, needs and concerns. Documents and information to be shared with the child can be found in pages 12-14 of the Verification of Receipt of Documents (CD-301b).
- Meeting with the placement provider no later than the next business day after initial placement provides opportunity to help the placement provider adjust to the child’s placement, provide information about the child, and to assess the placement provider’s needs. Documents and information to be shared with the relative placement provider can be found in pages 7-9 or foster placement provider in pages 10-11 of the Verification of Receipt of Documents (CD-301b).
- Engaging extended family members and service providers during the first 30 days through FST meetings or other methods of contact provides opportunity to gather information to ensure a quality assessment of the family is completed and the worker has a thorough understanding of the family’s natural supports, potential relative connections and services received. Information on required diligent search activities can be found in CWM 4.10.2 Diligent Searches and Placement Guidance.
- Collaboration with other professionals on the team during the first 30 days provides team members the opportunity to help determine the most appropriate permanency and concurrent goals for the child, identify the best placement for the child, support development of a visitation plan, determine the conditions the family must meet for the child to safely return to the parent or guardians care, help identify resources to assist the family in successful completion of those goals, to continually assess the safety and stability of the child and family, and take action to support the best interests of the child.
Within 30 days of the child’s entry into alternative care, the worker must submit to the court:
- The Initial Social Service Plan (SSP)
- The Diligent Search Efforts reporting form