5340 Exceptions to the Best Interest Staffing Meeting

1. When the following criteria are met in a case situation, a formal Best Interest Staffing (BIS) Meeting may be waived:
   1. The child is legally free for adoption, and; 
   2. There is one potential identified adoptive resource who is a relative, non-related kin or foster family, and; 
   3. If the child is not placed with a relative, concerted efforts to identify, locate and evaluate maternal and paternal relatives as adoptive resources and life-long connections are documented.
   4. The child has been placed with the one identified resource for a minimum of 6 consecutive months with no disruptions. 

The Child Welfare Case Management Provider (CWCMP) shall contact DCF to inquire if the identified adoptive resource has been listed as an alleged perpetrator on a DCF intake assigned for an investigation and consider the nature of the report(s) in making the decision to waive the BIS.

2. If all of the above criteria are met, the following process shall be followed:
   1. The CWCMP shall provide notification to all participants (see PPM 5339A.3.), and; 
   2. All documentation in the packet identified in 5339B.3, and; 
   3. The following message shall be sent with each notification and packet: 

Enclosed please find all documentation related to a Best Interest Staffing (BIS) for ________________________ (child’s name and DOB). There is one potential identified adoptive resource who is a relative, non-related kin or foster parent, __________ (name), and the child has been placed with them for 6 consecutive months.  If you have any objections to the selection of the identified adoptive resource without holding a BIS, please email_____________ within 7 working days of the date of this letter.  If one or more persons to whom the notifications have been sent emails an objection, a BIS meeting will immediately be scheduled. If there are no objections, received within 7 working days of the date of this letter, it will be understood you approve the adoptive resource and agree to a waiver of a formal BIS meeting.  If all of the persons who received the BIS notifications in a case unanimously approve the potential identified adoptive resource (no invitee emails with objections) a formal BIS meeting will be waived and the adoption will proceed.

 

3. Documentation of the BIS Team’s Decision:
   1. The CWCMP shall document the waiver of the formal BIS meeting and the decision of the BIS Team on the PPS 5341Best Interest Staffing Report and Approval.
   2. Within 3 working days of the BIS, the CWCMP shall send the child’s complete packet and the completed PPS 5341 to the CWCMP Program Director or designee.