Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Division 15 - Children and Family Services
Rule 016.15.13-010 - POLICIES II-H - FAMILY IN NEED OF SERVICES; VI-D - INITIAL AND GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT SERVICES; VI-G - CASE REVIEW JUDICIAL HEARINGS FOR CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT; VII-K - CHANGES IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT; VIII-D - TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS; VIII-E - DECISIONS INVOLVING CHILDREN IN DHS CUSTODY WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS TERMINATED; and CFS-495: Notification of Change
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
A.C.A. § 9-27-303 defines "Family In Need of Services" (FINS) as any family whose juvenile evidences behavior which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
A. Being habitually and without justification absent from school while subject to compulsory school attendance;
B. Being habitually disobedient to the reasonable and lawful commands of his parent, guardian, or custodian; or
C. Having absented himself from the juvenile's home without sufficient cause, permission, or justification.
Family services are provided in order to:
A. Prevent a juvenile from being removed from a parent, guardian, or custodian;
B. Reunite the juvenile with the parent, guardian, or custodian from whom the juvenile has been removed; or
C. Implement a permanent plan or adoption, guardianship, or rehabilitation of the juvenile.
The court shall not specify a particular provider for placement or family services, when DHS is the payor or provider. A court may order a child to be placed into a licensed approved placement (i.e., no child shall be-[ placed or remain in a placement in a foster home that has been closed or suspended by a child placement agency) after a hearing where the_court makes a finding that it is in the best interest of the child based on bona fide consideration of evidence and recommendations from all the parties. The court may also order a child to remain in a placement if the court finds the placement is in the best interest of the child after hearing evidence from all parties.
If the health or welfare of a child is in immediate danger while in a court-ordered placement the Division may [
immediately remove the child from the court-ordered placement. If the Division must move a child from a court- |
ordered placement due to the health or welfare of a child being in immediate danger, the Division shall notify all parties within 24 hours of the change in placement. Regarding this type of placement change, a hearing may be requested by a party to the case, and the hearing shall be held within five business days of receiving the request.
POLICY VI-D: INITIAL AND GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT SERVICES
08/2013
The Division of Children and Family Services shall ensure that all necessary medical services are provided to children receiving out-of-home placement services in order to promote their optimal physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. Foster parents will play an integral role in meeting the child's daily health .and well-being needs.
As the legal custodian for children in out-of-home placements, the Division has the right to obtain the medical records of any child upon presentation of an order of custody. In addition, the Division has the right to obtain medical care for any, child in DHS custody, including giving consent to specific medical, dental, or mental health treatments and procedures as required in the opinion of an authorized or licensed physician, dentist, surgeon, or psychologist, whether or not such care is provided on an emergency, inpatient, or outpatient basis. However, the Division shall not make any of the following decisions without receiving express court approval:
A. Consent to the removal of bodily organs, unless the procedure is necessary to save the life of the child;
B. Consent to withhold life-saving treatments;___________________
C. Consent to withhold life-sustaining treatments; or,_______________
D. Amputation of any body part.
An initial health screening will be held.- If the initial screening indicates that treatment or further evaluation is needed, DCFS shall ensure that such treatment or evaluation is promptly provided.
A Medical Passport will be completed for each child in an out-of-home placement.- The Medical Passport is a brief, readable, and current summary of the child's health history and current health status for use by present and future caretakers of the child.
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POLICY VI-G: CASE REVIEW JUDICIAL HEARINGS FOR CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT
08 /2013
,SIX MONTH REVIEW HEARINGS
The court will review out-of-home placement cases no less than every six months, including children in out-of-home cases who are placed out-of-state. ,The first six month review shall be held no later than six months from the date of the original out-of-home placement of the child. However, the court may require a review prior to the sixth month review hearing. In addition, at any time during the life of an out-of-home placement case, any party may request the court to review the case, and the party requesting the hearing shall provide reasonable notice to all parties.
At each sixth month hearing the court will review the case sufficiently to determine the future status of the child based on the child's best interest. The court shall determine and include in its orders the following:
A. .Whether the case plan, services, and placement meet the needs and best interest of the child, with the child's health, safety, and educational needs specifically addressed;
B. Whether the Division has made reasonable efforts to provide family services;
C. Whether the case plan is moving towards an appropriate permanency plan for the child, per A.C.A. § 9-27-338;
D. .Whether the visitation plan is appropriate for the child, the parent(s), or any siblings, if separated. provided in writing to all parties and counsel at least two days prior to the review hearing. All parties will be given a fair opportunity to dispute any part of a study, evaluation, or post-disposition report.
In making its findings, the court shall consider the following:
A. The extent of compliance with the case plan, including but not limited to, a review of the Division's care*/ for the health, safety, and education of the child while the child has been in an out-of-home placement; -The
B. extent of progress made toward alleviating or mitigating the causes necessitating the out-of home placement;
C. Whether the child should be returned to his or her parent(s) and whether the child's health and safety- can be protected by his or her parent(s) if returned home;
D. An appropriate permanency plan pursuant to A.C.A. § 9-27-338 for the child, including concurrent
planning (e.g., adoption, legal guardianship, APPLA, as appropriate).____________________________
PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING
The permanency planning hearing (PPH) shall determine the permanency goal for the child that includes, listed
in order of preference, in accordance with the best interest, health, and safety of the child:____________________
A. Placing custody of the child with a fit parent at the permanency planning hearing
B. Returning the child, to the guardian or custodian from whom the child, was removed initially removed at*- the permanency planning hearing.,_______________________________
C. Authorizing a plan to place custody of the child with a parent, guardian, or custodian only if the court finds that:
D. Authorizing a plan for adoption with the Division filing a petition for TPR, unless:
Reasonable efforts are not required to reunify the child and family if
A. The court has determined that the parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances (see Glossary);
B. The court has determined that the parent has committed:
6) Registered with a sex offender registry under the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
C. The parental rights of the parent with respect to a sibling have been terminated involuntarily.
POLICY VII-K: CHANGES IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT
08/2013
The Division recognizes that- stable placements for children in DHS custody result in a lesser amount of trauma to. and better long-term outcomes for children who must come into foster care.- Family preservation services or formal respite services shall be utilized if necessary to address issues in the out-of-home placement in order to prevent disruption. ,The requirements do not apply to [planned moves, or planned placements], or to respite care.__________________
FOSTER PARENT REQUEST FOR PLACEMENT CHANGE
When foster parents request a child in foster care be removed from their home, excluding an emergency that-places the child or a family member at risk of harm, the foster parents must attend a staffing within 48 hours of the request to discuss what services or assistance may be needed to stabilize the placement. This staffing does not impact other required staffings and should only be conducted to help stabilize the placement and /or planning for the child's placement.
The child in foster care, the child's attorney ad litem, and a CASA, if appointed to the case, shall be notified so they can attend and participate in the staffing and planning for the child's placement. Other participants may be invited to the staffing as appropriate (e.g., child's therapist, teacher, etc.).
If the placement cannot be stabilized as a result of the staffing, then the foster parents will continue to provide for the child in foster care until an appropriate alternative placement is located, but this shall not be longer than five business days from the day the staffing was held. .Written notifications of any placement changes will be provided to all required parties as described below.
NON-EMERGENCY PLACEMENT CHANGES
Non-emergency placement changes include a planned transfer to another foster home or residential setting that better meets the child's needs, a trial home placement, and a return to the parent/legal custodian when a child exits care. Changes in placement shall be made only after notification to the age-appropriate child, foster parent, the court, the OCC Attorney, attorney ad litem, and the child's birth parents.- Notices shall be sent in writing two weeks prior to the proposed change. -The notice shall:
The age-appropriate child will be notified of the right to appeal the change and to request assistance from the attorney ad litem. Pre-placement visits shall be conducted when possible before a change in placement.
If a placement change is occurring because the child is exiting foster care, then as with all closures of out-of-home placement cases, discharge planning must be conducted to ensure the health and safety of the child at case closure. The health and safety assessment and risk assessment are tools to be used in determining case closure. Discharge planning must be done at the staffing to close the case.
Minimum licensing standards require that a discharge summary be completed on each child and a copy given to the child's parents if the Division has not been granted TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) by the court. A copy of the discharge summary must become a part of the child's case file.
EMERGENCY PLACEMENT CHANGES
Exceptions to the advance notice requirement will be made if the health or welfare of the child would be endangered by delaying a change in placement (including court-ordered placements) or the child is placed in a placement intended to be temporary until a stable placement can be located for the child.
Within 24 hours of the emergency change in placement, DHS shall notify the birth parent(s), the OCC Attorney and the child's attorney ad litem of the change . Within 72 hours of the emergency change in placement, DHS shall provide written notice to the OCC Attorney and attorney ad litem with the name and address of the new out-of-home placement provider and the specific reasons justifying the change of placement without advance notice.
If an agent, employee, or contractor of DHS fails to comply with the emergency notice of change in placement requirements, then an action for violation of the requirement may be filed by any party to the action against the person who failed to comply with the requirement. -The court will determine the assessment of punishment with the most probable punishment being cited as contempt of court.
In addition, if the court finds the agent, employee, or contractor of DHS failed to comply with the requirement, then the court may order DHS or the agent, employee, or contractor to pay all of the costs of the proceedings brought under this requirement.
NOTIFICATION OF PLACEMENT CHANGES TO DCFS ELIGIBILITY UNIT
The DCFS Eligibility Unit will be notified automatically via CHRIS when placement changes that are entered into CHRIS affect the child's Medicaid eligibility. -This includes when the child moves to an out-of-state placement, is placed at a DYS facility or in a juvenile detention center, is on runaway status, is on a trial home visit, returns home, is adopted, or otherwise exits foster care. The child's Medicaid case will close the date the child's foster care case is closed.
Procedure VII-K1: Foster Parent Request for Placement Change
08/2013
If a request for removal is made by the foster parent, the Family Service Worker will:
A. Remove the child immediately without holding a staffing if the request for removal from the foster parent meets the definition for "imminent harm". Imminent harm is defined as an emergency that places the child or a family member at risk of harm.________________________
B. Prepare for a staffing to be held within 48 hours of notification of a request for removal from the foster parent and immediately notify the OCC attorney, attorney ad litem, CASA, and the child in foster care (if age appropriate) of the staffing date, time, and location.
C. If appropriate, request by phone, fax, or email that a licensed mental health professional or private mental health provider attend, or otherwise participate, in the staffing.
D. ,Hold a staffing within 48 hours of notification of a request for removal from the foster parent. If the , request is made on the weekend or a holiday, the staffing must be held by the close of business of the next working day.
E. Make an appropriate alternative placement within five business days from the date of the staffing, if the placement cannot be stabilized.
F. See Procedures VII-K2 and VII-K3, as applicable, for information regarding providing written notices of"- placement changes to appropriate parties.
The FSW Supervisor will:
A. Conference with FSW as necessary regarding change in placement.
PROCEDURE VII-K2: Non-Emergency Changes in Out-of-Home Placement
08/2013
The Family Service Worker will:
Inform age-appropriate child of the right to appeal a change in placement.
The FSW Supervisor will:
B. Conference with FSW as necessary regarding change in placement.
Procedure VII-K3: Emergency Changes in Out-of-Home Placement
The Family Service Worker will:
A. Notify the FSW supervisor immediately of the emergency placement change.
B. Notify the child's birth parent(s), OCC Attorney, and attorney ad litem by phone or in person within 24 hours of the emergency placement change.
C. Provide the attorney ad litem with the name, address, and telephone number of the new foster home or[LESS THAN]\ placement provider within 24 hours of the emergency placement change.
D. .Provide written notice to the child's birth parent(s) within 72 hours of the emergency placement change via the completed CFS-300: Parent Notification of Change in Placement.______________________________
E. Provide written notice within 72 hours of the emergency placement change to the attorney ad litem via«\ the completed CFS-300-A: Attorney Ad Litem/CASA, and Child Notification of Change in Placement.
F. Place a copy of the completed CFS-300-A: Attorney Ad Litem/CASA Notification of Change in Placement.in the child's record.
G. Update child placement information in CHRIS. Updating the placement information will open a response-«x window to notify the Eligibility Unit of the placement change.
H. Document submission of the CFS-300, CFS-300-A in the CHRIS Document Tracking Screen.
________________________________
The FSW Supervisor will:
A. Conference with FSW as necessary regarding change in placement.
POLICY VIII-D: TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS
08/2013
All children have a right to a safe, permanent family. The Division of Children and Family Services shall develop and implement permanency plans for children. One option is to terminate parental rights to a child for adoptive placement, when it has been determined that reunification with the family is not a viable option. The court may consider a petition to terminate parental rights (TPR) if the court finds that there is an appropriate permanency placement plan for the child. A court may terminate the rights of one parent and not the other parent if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child.
It is not required that a permanency planning hearing be held as a prerequisite to the filing of a petition to terminate parental rights, or as a prerequisite to the court considering a petition to terminate parental rights.
The Division will file a petition to terminate parental rights under the following circumstances:
A. A child (of any age) has been in an out-of-home placement for 15 of the most recent 22 months. The petition must be filed by the end of the child s 15 month in foster care. In calculating when to file a petition for TPR, the Division:
B. The parent is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to:
C77).Have abandoned an infant, as defined at A.C.A. § 9-27-303(2) (the petition to TPR will be made[LESS THAN]A
within 30 days of the judicial determination that the child is an abandoned infant);________________
The petition to terminate parental rights will be made within 30 days of a judicial determination that reasonable efforts to reunify the child and parent are not required.
The Division may elect not to file or join a petition to terminate parental rights if:
A. The child is being cared for by a relative, ,the relative has made a long-term commitment to the child, and the relative is willing to pursue adoption, guardianship, or permanent custody of the juvenile; or,
B. The child is being cared for by his or her parent who is in foster care
, and TPR is not in the best interest of the child;
C. The Division has documented in the case plan a compelling reason why filing such a petition is not in
the best interest of the child and the court approves the compelling reason as documented in the case
plan; or,D. The Division has not provided to the family of the child, consistent with the time period in the case
plan, such services as the Division deemed necessary for the safe return of the child to the child's home
if reunification services were required to be made to the family.
If a juvenile is the subject of an open case filed under the Arkansas Juvenile Code, OCC will file all subsequent petitions (i.e., TPR, adoption, guardianship) in that same circuit court and case.
If the court adopts the goal of termination of parental rights, the Division shall file a petition to terminate parental rights within 30 days from the date of the entry of the order establishing such goal.
If the court finds that the child should remain in an out-of-home placement, either long-term or otherwise, the child's case shall be reviewed every six months, with an annual permanency planning hearing. Additionally, if the child has been in an out-of-home placement 15 of the last 22 months, and a termination petition has been filed by another party, the Division will seek to join the petition.- Concurrent with the filing of a termination petition, the Division will identify, recruit, process and approve a qualified family for adoption.
_______________________________________________________
POLICY VIII-E: DECISIONS INVOLVING CHILDREN IN DHS CUSTODY WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS TERMINATED
.08/2013_____________________________________________
The Department of Human Services has designated the Area Director or designee as having the authority to give consent for major decisions for children whose parental rights have been terminated.
PROCEDURE VIII-E1: Decisions Involving Children in DHS Custody with Parental Rights Terminated
08/2013
The Area Director or must:
A. Give written consents in the following decisions involving children in DHS custody with parental rights terminated:
