3232 Concurrent Case Planning

 

Concurrent case planning emphasizes frequent interactions with birth families to achieve the preferred permanency goal of reintegration while simultaneously developing another goal as an alternative permanency plan for the child, if reintegration cannot be achieved. Concurrent case planning minimizes the negative impact of separation and loss on the child, and maintains the continuity in the child’s family and sibling relationship.

  

1. The Child Welfare Case Management Provider shall use a concurrent case planning model reflecting frequent parent/child interactions while the child remains placed in a relative/kin/foster/adopt home, intensive, time-limited work with birth families targeting the reason the child is in out of home placement, and develop a network of permanency planning resource parents who can work toward reintegration and also serve as the permanent resource for the child.
1. The Child Welfare Case Management Provider case manager and supervisor shall use the Concurrent Case Planning Guide (Appendix 3F) or a research based instrument to staff cases where concurrent planning might be in the best interest of the child.
2. Early reunification prognosis indicators and poor prognosis indicators shall be noted.
3. If the staffing concludes a concurrent case plan should be done, a case plan shall be scheduled within 30 days.
2. When it has been determined by the court that reintegration is no longer a viable option, the alternative permanency goal shall become the primary goal.
3. Relative/Kin/Foster/Adopt Family Role in Concurrent Case Planning

While efforts are being made to reintegrate the child with his/her family, diligent efforts shall be made to locate an absent parent, relatives, and/or non-related kin.  Reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or with a legal guardian, including identifying appropriate in-State and out-of-State placements, may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts to reunify the child and family.  Assessing the out of state placement possibilities when it is in the best interest of the child allows them to become placement options when it is appropriate.  These persons shall be explored as a possible resource for the child if reintegration cannot be achieved. Relative homes may be approved using DCF PPS standards instead of being approved as meeting DCF Foster Care and Residential Facility Licensing standards.  If the concurrent goal is adoption, the assessment shall include the KBI, DCF Central Registry, and fingerprint checks.  If there are prohibitive crimes, the Child Welfare Case Management Provider shall send the completed assessment and background checks to the PPS Program Administrator, or designee, for review. 

 

If relatives and/or non-related kin are not an option, efforts shall be made to find an adoptive family.  A foster family who is a potential adoptive resource provides out of home placement care for the child and works toward reintegration with the family if the plan is feasible. They also agree to be the permanent/adoptive resource for the child if parental rights are terminated. The Reintegration/Foster Care/Adoption Provider shall recruit and prepare families for this unique role, as well as provide support to these families.

 

Relative/Kin/Foster/Adopt families who have children in their care with a concurrent case plan should understand their dual role. The Reintegration/Foster Care/Adoption Provider shall select the family by considering the family's ability to not only meet the current needs of the child but the future needs as well. The placement of a child with a relative/kin/foster/adopt family shall be made only after a team of professionals have carefully considered all factors relevant to the family and the well-being of the child.