Determination of Type of Placement 624-05-15-40

(Revised 5/10/07 ML #3079)

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PI-08-20

 

Foster care is appropriate when it is used due to safety issues if the child remains at home. If the child must be placed out-of-home, a relative placement is preferable, then a foster family care home should be considered. Foster family homes require the child's ability to form some attachments and remain in the community.

 

Foster care case managers are frequently called upon to respond to family situations where a number of children must be removed from a home. Special consideration must be given to meeting the needs of sibling placements, with the emphasis on placing the entire sibling group in the same home if possible.

 

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 added a requirement that states "consider giving" preference to adult relative caregivers over non-relative caregivers when considering placement of a child. This is consistent with the philosophy of placing a child in the "least restrictive environment."

 

Therapeutic family foster homes are less restrictive than group/residential care, and should be considered first.

 

Group homes and residential child care facilities are reserved for children who cannot maintain the close relationships required in family settings and/or are not capable of remaining in the community.

 

Placement Assessment Guidelines

  1. Child's age.

  2. Child's readiness to accept family ties (form attachments).

  3. Child's readiness to participate in family life.

  4. Child's capacity to attend community schools.

  5. Child's capability of living in the community.

  6. Psychological assessment of the child.

  7. Parent input.

  8. Indian Child Welfare Act.

 

Case managers and supervisors are cautioned to carefully review and follow the requirements of NDDHS 624-05-05-15-50-15. Multiethnic Placement Act/Interethnic Adoption Provision (MEPA/IEP) in any foster care or adoption placement activity. MEPA/IEP compliance is a civil rights issue (Title VI).  

 

Federal Parent Locator Service

The North Dakota Department of Human Services or designee, in its provision of services under Title IV-E/IV-B of the Social Security Act, may have access to certain Child Support Enforcement Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) information for defined purposes. Information may only be accessed for the purpose of locating or facilitating the discovery of an individual who has or may have parental rights in order to make more informed and timely decisions about a child's permanency. To access the information, the Regional Supervisor must contact the State Foster Care Administrator who will request, as appropriate, the information through the State Parent Locator Service (SPLS).