Treatment Plans and Administrative Case Reviews

1. Treatment Plans and Administrative Case Reviews In a Nutshell

2. Sources of Law • Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 – Public Law 105-89. • 42 U.S.C.A. 622, 675 • 54 C.F.R. § 1355, 1356, and 1357

3. Sources of Law • Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-15 • DCF Policies • Chapter 36 – Treatment Planning • Chapter 24 – Administrative Case Reviews

4. Treatment Plans Case plans must be developed for every child under DCF supervision “within a reasonable period, to be established by the State, but in no event later than 60 days” from the date of removal. 45 C.F.R. 1356.21(g)(2); Conn.Gen.Stat. § 17a-15; DCF Policy No. 36-5-1.

5. Youth Who Turn 18 • Under current state law, a youth who turns 18 but remains with DCF is entitled to a treatment plan and review of such plan in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. Sections 17a-11 and 17a-15.

6. Types of Plans • Initial Individual Treatment Plan • Ongoing Treatment Plan • Family Treatment Plan

7. Purpose of Treatment Plans • To provide a “written working agreement” between the child, family, caretaker service provider, and DCF case worker. • Document child and family needs, services to be provided, reasonable efforts to prevent removal, reasonable efforts to reunify, and progress. DCF Policy No. 36-5-2.

8. Timelines for Treatment Plans • Treatment plan must be developed within 10 days of the treatment planning conference. • Treatment planning conference must occur within 30 days of the time the case is assigned to a treatment or voluntary services worker. DCF Policy No. 36-5-3, 36-5-4.

9. Administrative Case Reviews Each child must have a “case plan designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least restrictive (most family like) and most appropriate setting available and in close proximity to the parents’ home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of the child . . . “ 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(A).

10. Administrative Case Reviews • “[D]iscussion focused on the permanency planning needs of the child” • Must be held for every child in the physical or legal custody of DCF. DCF Policy No. 24-2.

11. Who Must Participate in ACRs? • ACR Reviewer – Division of Quality Assurance • DCF Worker • DCF Supervisor • Any member of the RRG, community consultant, support-staff worker, and/or community service provider who has participated in any aspect of the case in the seven (7) months prior to the review DCF Policy No. 24-5.

12. Who Must be Invited to ACRs • Child’s parents (unless TPR’d) • Child, if age 12 or above • Child’s foster parent or residential care social worker • Counsel for the parents • Counsel for the children • Guardian ad litem for the children DCF Policy No. 24-5.

13. May Others be Invited? • Yes • Any other professional involved with the case • Relatives of the child and parent if they are involved in the service provision and/or can contribute information important to case planning DCF Policy No. 24-5.

14. Timelines for ACRs Reviews must occur every 6 months. The first review must take place within 6 months of the date the child enters foster care. 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(B).

15. Timelines for ACRs Must be completed no later than 30 days beyond the ongoing treatment plan date and in no event later than 6 months from the date of placement. DCF Policy No. 24-3.

16. Date of Entry Into Foster Care Date of entry into foster care = 60 days from the date of removal or the date of adjudication, whichever is first 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(F); 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a).