Section 316.120 Permanency Hearings

Section 316

TITLE 89: SOCIAL SERVICES

CHAPTER III: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

SUBCHAPTER a: SERVICE DELIVERY

PART 316 ADMINISTRATIVE CASE REVIEWS AND COURT HEARINGS

SECTION 316.120 PERMANENCY HEARINGS

Section 316.120  Permanency

Hearings

a)         The Department or its contributing agency will participate in

permanency hearings conducted by the court at 12 months following the temporary

custody hearing and every six months thereafter to assist the court in:

1)         selecting the permanency goal;

2)         reviewing the appropriateness of the services contained in the

plan and whether those services, including sibling visitation and contact, have

been provided as specified; and

3)         determining whether reasonable efforts have been made by all

parties to the case plan to achieve the goal; and

4)         evaluating whether the case plan and permanency goal have been

achieved.

b)         The Department or its contributing agency shall provide, no

later than 14 days in advance of the hearing, a copy of the most recent case

plan and Visitation and Contact Plan, prepared within the prior six months, to

the court and all parties to the permanency hearings.

c)         If not contained in the case plan, the Department or its contributing

agency shall also include a report setting forth:

1)         any special physical, psychological, educational, medical,

emotional, or other needs of the youth in care or the family that are relevant

to a permanency or placement determination; and

2)         for any youth in care age 16 or over, a written description of

the programs or services that will enable the youth in care to prepare for

independent living.

d)         The Department's or its provider agency's written report shall

indicate the reasons the permanency goal was selected and the reason the other

goals were inappropriate and not in the youth in care's best interest

and

2)         for any youth in care age 16 or over, a written description of

the programs or services that will enable the youth in care to prepare for

independent living.

d)         The Department's or its provider agency's written report shall

indicate the reasons the permanency goal was selected and the reason the other

goals were inappropriate and not in the youth in care's best interest.

e)         If

the goal for the youth in care is continuing substitute care the Department's

or its provider agency's written report shall indicate the reasons the goal of

continuing substitute care is appropriate and the other permanency goals are

inappropriate based on the youth in care's best interest.

f)         The Department's or its contributing agency's caseworker is

required to appear and testify (if called to do so) at the hearing and prepare

a written report for the court, as outlined in this Section.