Treatment Plans and Treatment Plans and Administrative Case ReviewsAdministrative Case Reviews

In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

Sources of LawSources of Law

Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 – Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 – Public Law 105-89.Public Law 105-89.

42 U.S.C.A. 622, 67542 U.S.C.A. 622, 675

54 C.F.R. § 1355, 1356, and 135754 C.F.R. § 1355, 1356, and 1357

Sources of LawSources of Law

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-15Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-15

   DCF Policies DCF Policies

– Chapter 36 – Treatment PlanningChapter 36 – Treatment Planning– Chapter 24 – Administrative Case Chapter 24 – Administrative Case

ReviewsReviews

Treatment PlansTreatment Plans

Case plans must be developed for every child under Case plans must be developed for every child under DCF supervision “within a reasonable period, to be DCF supervision “within a reasonable period, to be established by the State, but in no event later than 60 established by the State, but in no event later than 60 days” from the date of removal. days” from the date of removal.

45 C.F.R. 1356.21(g)(2); Conn.Gen.Stat. § 17a-15; DCF 45 C.F.R. 1356.21(g)(2); Conn.Gen.Stat. § 17a-15; DCF Policy No. 36-5-1.Policy No. 36-5-1.

Youth Who Turn 18Youth Who Turn 18

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

Types of PlansTypes of Plans

Initial Individual Treatment PlanInitial Individual Treatment Plan Ongoing Treatment PlanOngoing Treatment Plan Family Treatment PlanFamily Treatment Plan

Purpose of Treatment PlansPurpose of Treatment Plans

To provide a “written working agreement” To provide a “written working agreement” between the child, family, caretaker service between the child, family, caretaker service provider, and DCF case worker. provider, and DCF case worker.

Document child and family needs, services to be Document child and family needs, services to be provided, reasonable efforts to prevent removal, provided, reasonable efforts to prevent removal, reasonable efforts to reunify, and progress. reasonable efforts to reunify, and progress.

DCF Policy No. 36-5-2.DCF Policy No. 36-5-2.

Timelines for Treatment PlansTimelines for Treatment Plans

Treatment plan must be developed within Treatment plan must be developed within 10 days of the treatment planning 10 days of the treatment planning conference.conference.

Treatment planning conference must occur Treatment planning conference must occur within 30 days of the time the case is within 30 days of the time the case is assigned to a treatment or voluntary assigned to a treatment or voluntary services worker.services worker.

DCF Policy No. 36-5-3, 36-5-4.DCF Policy No. 36-5-3, 36-5-4.

Administrative Case ReviewsAdministrative Case Reviews

Each child must have a “case plan designed to Each child must have a “case plan designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least restrictive (most family like) and most least restrictive (most family like) and most appropriate setting available and in close appropriate setting available and in close proximity to the parents’ home, consistent proximity to the parents’ home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of the with the best interest and special needs of the child . . . “child . . . “

42 U.S.C. 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(A).§ 675(5)(A).

Administrative Case ReviewsAdministrative Case Reviews

““[D]iscussion focused on the permanency [D]iscussion focused on the permanency planning needs of the child”planning needs of the child”

Must be held for every child in the physical Must be held for every child in the physical

or legal custody of DCF.or legal custody of DCF.

DCF Policy No. 24-2.DCF Policy No. 24-2.

Who Must Participate in ACRs?Who Must Participate in ACRs?

ACR Reviewer – Division of Quality AssuranceACR Reviewer – Division of Quality Assurance DCF WorkerDCF Worker DCF SupervisorDCF Supervisor Any member of the RRG, community consultant, Any member of the RRG, community consultant,

support-staff worker, and/or community service support-staff worker, and/or community service provider who has participated in any aspect of the provider who has participated in any aspect of the case in the seven (7) months prior to the reviewcase in the seven (7) months prior to the review

DCF Policy No. 24-5.DCF Policy No. 24-5.

Who Must be Invited to ACRsWho Must be Invited to ACRs

Child’s parents (unless TPR’d)Child’s parents (unless TPR’d) Child, if age 12 or aboveChild, if age 12 or above Child’s foster parent or residential care social Child’s foster parent or residential care social

workerworker Counsel for the parentsCounsel for the parents Counsel for the childrenCounsel for the children Guardian ad litem for the childrenGuardian ad litem for the children DCF Policy No. 24-5.DCF Policy No. 24-5.

May Others be Invited?May Others be Invited?

YesYes– Any other professional involved with the caseAny other professional involved with the case– Relatives of the child and parent if they are Relatives of the child and parent if they are

involved in the service provision and/or can involved in the service provision and/or can contribute information important to case contribute information important to case planningplanning

DCF Policy No. 24-5.DCF Policy No. 24-5.

Timelines for ACRsTimelines for ACRs

Reviews must occur every 6 months. The Reviews must occur every 6 months. The first review must take place within 6 first review must take place within 6 months of the date the child enters foster months of the date the child enters foster care. care.

42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(B). 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(B).

Timelines for ACRsTimelines for ACRs

Must be completed no later than 30 days Must be completed no later than 30 days beyond the ongoing treatment plan date and in beyond the ongoing treatment plan date and in no event later than 6 months from the date of no event later than 6 months from the date of placement. placement.

DCF Policy No. 24-3.DCF Policy No. 24-3.

Date of Entry Into Foster CareDate of Entry Into Foster Care

Date of entry into foster care = 60 days Date of entry into foster care = 60 days from the date of removal or the date of from the date of removal or the date of adjudication, whichever is firstadjudication, whichever is first

42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(F); 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a).42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(F); 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a).