Case Plan 624-05-15-50

(Revised 12/1/15 ML #3461)

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PI 16-36

 

Each child in foster care is required by federal law to have a case plan which must be a written document and a discrete part of the case record. The initial case plan must be developed within 30 days of entry into foster care.

 

The information in FRAME captures information essential to generate the individualized case plan to meet federal foster care requirements. The signed signature sheet from the Child & Family Team Meetings (FRAME generated) must be maintained as a hard copy in the child’s foster care case file.

 

In those limited situations where the permanency planning preprinted forms (created outside of FRAME) are allowed, the created case planning document must be signed and maintained as a hard copy in the child’s foster care case file.

 

Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, Sec. 475, specifies what must be in a foster care case plan. The child’s case plan must:

• Be a written document and made a discrete part of the case record.
• Include a description of services offered and provided to prevent removal of the child from the home and to reunify the family.A description of the type of home or institution in which the child will be placed, discussion of safety and appropriateness of the placement, how the responsible agency plans to carry out court requirements (i.e. reasonable efforts).
• Include a description of the type of home or institution in which the child will be placed, discussion of safety and appropriateness of the placement, how the responsible agency plans to carry out court requirements (i.e. reasonable efforts).The plan must assure the child receives safe and proper care; that services are provided to the parents, child, and foster parents in order to improve conditions in parents’ home, facilitate return of child to their own safe home or the permanent placement of the child, and address the needs of the child while in foster care, including a discussion of the appropriateness of the services that have been provided to the child as reflected in FRAME. The plan must also address visitations between the parent(s), siblings, and foster child. The timeframes for these visits must be appropriate and meet the needs of the foster child and his/her family.
• Assure the child receives safe and proper care; that services are provided to the parents, child, and foster parents in order to improve conditions in parents’ home, facilitate return of child to their own safe home or the permanent placement of the child.It must include the most recent information available pertaining to child’s health and education records, including:
• Include a discussion of the appropriateness of the services that have been provided to the child as reflected in FRAME.
• Address visitations between the parent(s), siblings, and foster child. The timeframes for these visits must be appropriate and meet the needs of the foster child and his/her family.
• Include discussions of how the plan is designed to achieve a safe placement for the child in the least restrictive (most family-like) setting available and in close proximity to the home of the parent(s) when the case goal is reunification and a discussion of how the placement is consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child.
• Include details stating (if applicable) why the placement is in the best interest of the child if placement is a substantial distance from the home of the parent(s), in a different state, or outside of the Tribal service area.
  • If the child is placed out of the community, state, tribal service area the case manager must make arrangements for monthly face-to-face visitation with the child.
• Include the most recent information available pertaining to child’s health and education records, including:
  • Names and addresses of child’s health and educational providers;
  • Child’s grade level performance;
  • Child’s school record;
  • Assurances that the child’s placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement;
  • A record of child’s immunizations;
  • The child’s known medical problems;
  • The child’s medication;
  • Any other relevant health and education information concerning the child determined to be appropriate by the State agency;
  • Assurances that a school age child in foster care is enrolled as a student (or in the process of enrolling), or is a full-time *elementary or secondary school student; or, is incapable of attending school on a full-time basis due to the medical condition of the child. If the child is incapable of attending school on a full-time basis, regularly updated information, must be included in the case plan that supports this determination; and
  • Assurances that the agency has coordinated with appropriate local educational agencies to ensure that the child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement; or, if remaining in such school is not in the best interests of the child, assurances by the State agency and local educational agencies to provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school, with all of the educational records of the child provided to the school.

(* The term “elementary or secondary school student” can include youth who are attending school in accordance with the State home school law, or youth who are seeking his/her GED through an independent study program in accordance with State law.)

 

NOTE: The above information related to education and medical must be reviewed and updated at the time of each placement of the child in foster care. Also, included is a requirement that such records be supplied to the foster parents or foster care providers.

 

Additional Case Planning Requirements Include:

1. Permanency Goal:
   1. If the child’s permanency plan/goal is adoption or placement in another permanent home, federal law (ASFA) requires the plan must include:

      1. Documentation of the steps the agency is taking to find an adoptive family or other planned permanent living arrangement for the child, to place the child with an adoptive family, a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or in another planned permanent living arrangement, and to finalize a legal guardianship.

      2. At a minimum such documentation must include child specific recruitment efforts such as the use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges including electronic exchange systems to facilitate orderly and timely in-State and interstate placements.

2. If the child’s permanency plan/goal is another planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA) the case plan must include:

1. Documentation of intensive, ongoing, and unsuccessful efforts made to return the child home or secure placement for the child with a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent, including the utilization of search technology to find biological family members.
2. Documentation ensuring the foster care provider is following the reasonable and prudent parent standard.
3. Documentation that the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

2. Age Specific Case Plan Requirements:

1. A foster child who has attained 14 years of age, must be given the opportunity to:
   
   
   1. Participate in the development and revision of their individualized permanency plan, which must include:
      1. A written description of programs and services to help the child prepare for their transition to a successful adulthood. The case manager must assist the child in developing goals to meet their independent living needs.
      2. A signed copy of the ND Foster Youth Rights (DN 402) (see 624-05-15-50-49).

2. Personally invite two additional members to join the Child & Family Team, chosen by the child, who are not foster parents of, or a case manager for, the child.
   1. Custodians may reject an individual selected by a child to be a member of the Child & Family Team at any time if there is good cause to believe that the individual would not act in the best interest of the child.
   2. One individual selected by the child to be a member of the child’s team may be designated to be the child’s advisor and, as necessary, advocate, with respect to the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard to the child.

2. A foster child who has attained 16 years of age and has been identified as "likely to age out of foster care"; will be considered a Chafee Independent Living Program “Priority 1” participant. Children age 16+ are required to be referred to the Chafee Independent Living Program (SFN 1613) for assistance to the case manager in assessing and addressing the needs for a child’s transition to a successful adulthood.
   
   
3. A foster child who is nearing 18 years of age must have as part of their case plan:

   1. A developed individualized transition plan (SFN 494) (see 624-05-15-10)

   2. A documented review of a health care directive (see 624-05-15-50-46).

Notice of Child Proceedings

Foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, or relatives providing care for the child must be provided with written notice of and a right to be heard in any proceeding held with respect to the child during the time the child is in the care of such foster parent, pre-adoptive parent or relative caregiver. Email or letter notice constitutes written notice, if there is documentation of the letter or email on file.

 

For assistance in generating the child’s foster care case plan on FRAME, please refer to the FRAME user manual.

 

Abbreviated Case Plan

Every child in foster care is required to have an approved case plan which is a written document that is made a discrete part of the case record. For child in foster care on a short-term basis (less than 30 days), an abbreviated case plan is allowable. An abbreviated case plan must contain at least one completed factor, with goals and tasks, in FRAME’s family assessment instrument.

 

All case plans must take into account the child’s safety, permanence, and well-being. An approved case plan must be in FRAME before the foster care case can be closed.

 

NOTE: High Risk Youth (at risk of harming self or others) Great emphasis is placed on youth in foster care receiving safe and proper care. Each child’s case plan must include strategies for dealing with any behaviors or emotional needs which place him/her in the high risk category. Upon identification of such behaviors or emotional needs, a safety plan must be developed immediately for implementation. A safety plan must be developed and distributed to all appropriate parties, specifically including the foster parents.

 

Every child in foster care will have an individualized case plan developed and reviewed at least quarterly during the case review (Child & Family Team Meeting). See 624-05-15-50-03.