Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 13 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Division 35 - Children's Division
Chapter 35 - Alternative Care
Section 13 CSR 35-35.050 - Case Plan

Universal Citation: 13 MO Code of State Regs 35-35.050

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024

PURPOSE: This amendment will change language to reflect the proper division, and move the regulation into the correct chapter.

PURPOSE: This rule requires the establishment of a case plan for every child in the custody of Children's Division or receiving social services from the Children's Division. It also provides a definition of a case plan as well as describing the required content and time periods for development and review of the case plan.

(1) Every child in the care and custody of, or receiving social services from, the division shall have a case plan developed for the purpose of preventing removal of the child from the care of the parents, reunifying a child separated from parent(s) or securing a permanent placement for a child if it is determined the child cannot be reunified with his/her parents.

(2) Every case plan must be developed with- in thirty (30) days from the date if has been determined a child should receive protective services or from the date that a judicial determination has been made that the child should be placed in the care and custody of the division. Thereafter, each case plan shall be reviewed and modified, as necessary, every six (6) months. The purpose of the review is to determine the extent of compliance with the case plan and determine what changes, if any, should be made.

(3) The term case plan means a written document which describes social and child welfare services and activities to be provided by the division and other local community agencies for the purpose of achieving a permanent familial relationship for the child.

(4) This case plan shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

(A) Identifying information about the child and his/her immediate and extended family;

(B) A description of the factors and conditions, including the psychological needs of the child, which caused the division to determine that protective or alternative care services were needed or a copy of the judicial determinations made regarding the child is placement in the custody of the division;

(C) A description of what efforts were made to prevent removal from the custody of

(D) A statement of the intended plan for permanency for the child which shall consist of one (1) of the following:
1. Maintain the child with the biological parents;

2. Reunify the child with his/her biological family if a judicial determination has been made for the child to be removed from the custody of the parent(s) and placed in alternate care;

3. Place the child for the purpose of guardianship or adoption; or

4. Maintain the child in a long-term separation from his/her biological parents with an agreed upon plan with the care provider. This provision applies only if a child is over sixteen (16) years of age;

(E) A description of how the plan is designed to maintain or reunify the child with his/her biological parent(s) or achieve a permanent substitute placement for the child including:
1. A description of the social services to be provided and a description of the services needed to carry out any requirements of a judicial determination proceeding or order with a designation of the responsible parties for the provision of any services:

2. A description of the responsibilities of the parent(s); and

3. A description of parental behaviors which determine that services are no longer necessary or that alternative care is no longer needed;

(F) A description of the appropriateness and necessity for placement away from the biological parents if the court has ordered placement, including at a minimum, the following:
1. The least restrictive characteristics of the alternate care placement facility correlated to the condition and best interests of the child;

2. The degree of proximity of the alternate care placement facility to the location of the biological parent(s) residence(s);

3. A description of how the needs of the child will be met while in placement; and 4. A parental visitation schedule including frequency, location, arrangements and a method of documentation for actual visits; and

(G) An evaluation of case plan achievement by all parties including a time period for case plan achievement.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Missouri may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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