Chapter 2 : Section 10

Reasonable Candidate for Foster Care Determinations

Policy

For each child residing with a parent or guardian who has a case open for services, the Department shall determine if the child is a reasonable candidate for foster care. For these children:

A child is a reasonable candidate for foster care when it is reasonable to believe that absent effective preventative services, foster care is the planned arrangement for the child.

If a child is determined to be a reasonable candidate for foster care, the child’s case plan must describe services offered and provided to prevent the removal of the child from the home.

The Department shall review the determination that a child is a reasonable candidate for foster care no less than every six months while the case is open and the child remains in the home.

For each child receiving prevention services described in the Department’s Prevention Programs and Services Five Year Plan, the Department shall determine if the child is a reasonable candidate for foster care. For these children, a child is a reasonable candidate for foster care when the child and family is eligible for a program named in the Department’s current approved Prevention Programs and Services Five Year Plan and does not have a DCS case open for services. The determination that a child is a reasonable candidate will be made by the Department based on information provided to the Department by the agency or provider delivering services to the family.

Procedures

Determining if a Child is a Reasonable Candidate for Foster Care

The Department may claim and receive federal funding for the administrative costs associated with children who are residing at home and are reasonable candidates for foster care.

A child is a reasonable candidate for foster care if:

the child is residing with a parent or guardian;
the child is at serious risk of removal from home, as defined below;
reasonable efforts to prevent the child’s removal are being made by providing safety services as part of a Safety Plan and/or treatment services to enhance parental protective capacities; and
if it becomes necessary to remove the child from the home, the child is expected to be placed in foster care and is not expected to be placed in a detention facility, correctional facility, behavioral health inpatient facility, or hospital.

The child is at serious risk of removal from home if the child is residing with a parent or guardian and:

the Family Functioning Assessment (FFA) has resulted in a determination that the child is unsafe due to impending danger and an in-home or combination Safety Plan has been developed to control the safety threat(s);
the FFA has resulted in a determination that the child is currently safe from impending danger, the case has been opened for Department-monitored services and supports, and if these services are not effective emergency removal of the child will be necessary;
- petition for in-home intervention has been filed;
a petition for in-home dependency has been filed; or
the child has been reunified with a parent or guardian, is a temporary court ward or adjudicated dependent, and the Department continues to provide safety services as a part of a Safety Plan and/or treatment services to enhance parental protective capacities and prevent re-entry into foster care.

Develop a family centered case plan following the procedures in Developing and Reassessing the Family-Centered Case Plan. The child’s case plan must identify services, strategies, and supports to assist the parent, guardian, and/or custodian(s) and family to achieve the desired behaviors identified in the case plan. Tailor services to meet the specific needs of the family to prevent removal of the child.

Review the determination that the child is a reasonable candidate for foster care no less than every six months while the case is open and the child remains in the home. This review shall occur as part of the Family Functioning Assessment – Progress Review and/or reassessment of the case plan.

Documentation

When the permanency goal of Remain with Family is selected in a child’s case plan, make the appropriate selection, Yes or No, to document the Reasonable Candidate for Foster Care determination.

Document the re-determination that a child is a reasonable candidate for foster care no less than every six months