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An explanation of the Permanency Hearing Report for Family Court

Department of Human Services The Court Unit presents a Permanency Planning guide. An explanation of the Permanency Hearing Report for Family Court. Instructions: Click the arrow button below to access the next or prior page. Next Page. Permanency Planning.

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An explanation of the Permanency Hearing Report for Family Court

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  1. Department of Human Services The Court Unit presents a Permanency Planning guide An explanation of the Permanency Hearing Reportfor Family Court Instructions: Click the arrow button below to access the next or prior page Next Page

  2. Permanency Planning The Adoption and Safe Family Act enacted in 1997 places increased emphasis upon the permanent plan of a child in ‘out of home’ placement. This law requires that the Family Court judge make a permanency determination at the 2nd permanency hearing. For most cases, but not all, the 2nd permanency hearing occurs near the 12th month of placement. Prior Page Next Page

  3. Permanency Planning During the first 12 months of a child’s placement parents should be provided with services focusing upon reunification. It is the departments responsibility to provided services and make a recommendation on the permanency plan to the court based completion of the family service plan goals and the specific needs of the child. Prior Page Next Page

  4. Permanency Philosophy The ‘Permanency Hearing Report’ is based upon child welfare practice improvement and the importance of identifying a permanent home for every child in ‘out of home placement’ before the 15 month of placement.Children with permanent families fair much better in life. Prior Page Next Page

  5. Permanency Philosophy This change allows the social worker, solicitor, legal advocates, parents and Family Court to focus upon the critical decisions needed to provide a child with a permanent home. If these decision are not made at this permanency hearing they may not be made at all, thus a child may remain in care without permanence. Prior Page Next Page

  6. Permanency Hearing Report The ‘Permanency Hearing Report’ will be submitted to Family Court and all the represented parties two weeks before the child’s 2nd permanency hearing. The solicitor’s will complete the report with the assistance of the social workers and send it to all of the parties. Solicitors and administrators will schedule time each month to coordinate this work. Prior Page Next Page

  7. Permanency Hearing Report At the beginning of each month Director’s in each Family Region will receive a report of the children that are approaching the 2nd Permanency hearing during the following month. These children have been in placement for 9 to 15 months. Prior Page Next Page

  8. Concurrent Goal If reunification is not imminent and an alternate goal is most appropriate, ‘what is the goal and by when can the goal be achieved’? • ADOPTION • PERMANENT LEGAL CUSTODIAN • ANOTHER PLANNED PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT Prior Page Next Page

  9. Social Worker Planning Social worker’s will need to have recently spoken to the provider agency to identify what issues the parents have been compliant or non-compliant. • Is visitation occurring as planned? • What services are being offered to the parents (etc. drug/ alcohol rehab, mental health, housing, parenting skills)? • Who attended the last FSP? What is the secondary plan if reunification is not an alternative and by what timeframe can the permanency plan be achieved? • If the child is with a relative the permanency of this relationship needs to be explored. • Are there extraordinary issues that need to be addressed in court? • Use the 2nd permanency review as a your guide. Prior Page Next Page

  10. Provider Agencies and Services • The DHS social worker should have received the quarterly report from the Provider • The parent’s level of compliance and non-compliance with the FSP should be discussed with the provider before the supervisory meeting. • Quantity and quality of parental visitation is critical and should be documented. • Children that have special needs will require an explanation and supporting documentation. Prior Page Next Page

  11. Supervisory Decision Making Supervisors should conference each case within their unit with the social worker in advance of the solicitor preparing the report. The ‘Permanency Hearing Report’ should provide the context for the discussion. A determination needs to be made, by the social worker and supervisor, as to whether the parents are a realistic resource for reunification. Prior Page Next Page

  12. The Court Report A court report needs to be completed prior to each hearing. The court report discusses the current situation of the child in placement (education, medical issues, relationships and general progress). Permanency issues do not need to be included in the court report if they are included in the permanency report . Prior Page Next Page

  13. Follow up • The Permanency Report should be kept in the court portion of the case record with the court sheet and the court order. It will be returned to the social worker after the child’s permanency hearing. • For general question about the permanency process you may contact your supervisor, court rep or solicitors office. Specific questions about families should be directed to the permanency attorney. Prior Page Next Page

  14. Overview • DHS social worker discusses the child and parents’ progress with provider. • DHS supervisor and social worker reviews family progress and makes a permanency recommendation. • City solicitor prepares ‘Permanency Report’ with DHS social worker. • Solicitor sends ‘Permanency Report’ to all of the parties • Report is presented to Family Court for a decision on the permanency goal by the court. Prior Page Next Page

  15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CLICK HERE FOR THE QUIZ CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OR BELOW TO GO TO THE SPECIFIC TOPIC The Permanency Report ASFA TIME FRAME Services and the Provider Social Worker Planning Supervisory role

  16. Hearing Report Permanency Quiz 5 questions Answer each question correctly before you can proceed to the next question. If you miss a question you will be sent back to the first question. When you select the correct answer you will proceed to the next question. The pages will not turn until you make a selection or quit. Begin the Quiz End the Quiz

  17. Q:What does Permanency mean for a child in foster care? Adoption Encouraging a relative to become a foster parent Involving a caretaker in make a life long commitment to the child’s care Ensuring that the child remains where he is placed

  18. Correct answer Q:What does Permanency mean for a child in foster care? A:Adoption is just one of several options that can be considered permanent for a child in foster care. The most important consideration is the caretakers willingness to provide a life-long commitment to the child. Adoption Encouraging a relative to become a foster parent Involving the caretaker in make a life long commitment to the child’s care Ensuring that the child remains where he is placed Correct Continue to next question I quit

  19. Q: At what point does the Permanency decision need to be made? At the second permanency hearing At the twelth month of placement Before the 15th month of placement At each hearing until the child has a permanent goal

  20. Q: At what point does the Permanency decision need to be made? Correct answer A: This determination is due are each permanency hearing until the child has a premanency goal. The permanency ‘report’ is due only at about the 12th month of placement. At the second permanency hearing At the twelth month of placement Before the 15th month of placement At each hearing until the child has a permanent goal Correct Continue to next question I quit

  21. What are Permanency goals? 1 ADOPTION 2 PERMANENT LEGAL CUSTODIAN 3 ANOTHER PLANNED PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT 4 FOSTER CARE / KINSHIP 5 LONGTERM 1 only 1, 2 AND 3 I duh know All

  22. What are Permanency goals? Correct answer A: The top three goals are permanency goals. Foster care /kinship and long term will be eliminated for the FSP goal structure. 1 ADOPTION 2 PERMANENT LEGAL CUSTODIAN 3 ANOTHER PLANNED PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT 4 FOSTER CARE / KINSHIP 5 LONGTERM 1,2 and3 are Correct 4 and 5 are not permanent goals Continue to next question I quit

  23. If a social worker does not provide a compelling reasonon the ‘Permanency Hearing Report’ what happens? Your supervisor gets really angry The law department must file for termination of parental rights petition The compelling reason can be presented at the next hearing date The child is returned home due to lack of evidence

  24. If a social worker does not provide a compelling reasonon the ‘Permanency Hearing Report’ what happens? Correct answer A: A compelling reason must be providedat each permanency hearing. It justifies to the court the reason we do not want to terminate the parental rights. If not presented a TPR petition must be filed. Your supervisor gets really angry The law department must file for termination of parental rights petition The compelling reason can be presented at the next hearing date The child is returned home due to lack of evidence Correct Continue to next question I quit

  25. The ‘Permanency Hearing Report should be completed jointly by whom approximately a month before the hearing? The supervisor, DHS social worker and the provider agency The permanency attorney, DHS social worker, supervisor and provider social worker The permanency attorney and court unit The provider social worker and child

  26. Correct answer The ‘Permanency Hearing Report should be completed jointly by whom approximately a month before the hearing? The permanency attorney and administrator will schedule time for the DHS supervisor /social worker and provider social worker to meet and discuss the cases that are listed. The supervisor, DHS social worker and the provider agency The permanency attorney, DHS social worker, supervisor and provider The permanency attorney and court unit The provider social worker and child Correct Next I quit

  27. SorryIncorrect Answer You are being sent back to the first question I’ll try again I Quit

  28. Congratulations You have successfully answered the Permanency Report Hearing quiz. For your chance to win two free movie tickets click here. Click here to end the show Click here to return to the beginning

  29. Congratulations You have successfully completed the Permanency Review Hearing slideshow. To enter the contest send Dell Meriwether an E mail with the word ‘Winner’ in the subject area. The 20th entry will win two free movie tickets. Contest ends on 2/15/02. Check the discussions_personal section for the winner. End Presentation

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