Chapter 3 : Section 3.2

Concurrent Planning

Procedures

Implementation

Based on the results of the Family Functioning Assessment, review the family’s strengths, caregiver protective capacities, resources, and prognosis indicators. Use this information to complete an assessment of the likelihood of family reunification within 12 months of the child’s initial removal.

No later than 45 days from the child’s removal, conduct an initial assessment of the prognosis of family reunification for both parents, and guardians and/or custodians. Refer to Reunification Prognosis Assessment Guide, DCS-1607 to guide the assessment.

When the prognosis of achieving family reunification is assessed as unlikely to occur within 12 months of the child’s initial removal, a planned set of concurrent planning activities will be implemented to:

• identify and assess potential caregivers;

• place the child with suitable caregivers; and

• confirm that the caregivers are prepared to care for the child on a permanent basis if needed.

At critical decision points in the life of the case (initial and subsequent case plan staffings, Permanency Hearing, etc.), discuss and stress the importance of permanency with the parents, and inform the parents, guardians and/or custodians:

• of all available alternatives to achieve permanency for the child, including:

  • family reunification through successful change in behaviors or conditions that caused the child to be unsafe or at risk of future maltreatment;

  • consent to adoption;

  • consent to guardianship; or

  • adoption through termination of parental rights; and

• that if significant progress toward the behavioral changes listed in the case plan is not made by the time of the Permanency Hearing, the Department may recommend, or the court may order the permanency goal be changed from Family Reunification to another permanency goal, such as Adoption, Permanent Guardianship, or Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement.

As appropriate considering the child's age and developmental capacity, and for all youth age 12 or older, at critical decision points in the life of the case (initial and subsequent case plan staffings, progress review, case plan reassessment, etc.) ensure the youth is:

• informed of the youth's role and rights in participating in the case plan and court proceedings;

• informed about the Department's goal of achieving permanency for the youth in a safe home;

• informed of all available alternatives to achieve permanency for the youth, including family reunification through the parent’s successful change in behaviors or conditions that caused the youth to be unsafe, consent to adoption, consent to guardianship, and adoption through termination of parental rights;

• informed that individualized services addressing the reasons for DCS involvement are made available to families;

• informed about their parents', guardians’ and/or custodians’ activities and progress toward reunification, unless returning home is not a possibility;

• helped to identify significant adults with whom relationships should be sought and maintained; and

• encouraged to maintain contact with the birth family and kin, or others with whom the youth has a close relationship. See Parenting Time and Family Contact Plan.

Encourage the participation of parents, children, and, when appropriate, extended family members in the concurrent permanency planning process.

Once a need for a concurrent permanency plan has been identified, simultaneously and actively pursue the Family Reunification permanency goal and implement a planned set of concurrent planning activities including:

• interviewing the child, parents, grandparents, other extended family members, and other persons who have a significant relationship with the child to identify potential permanent caregivers for the child;

• assessing potential caregivers for the child by completing the assessment procedures in Kinship Care;

• ensuring that all potential caregivers and all adult household members are fingerprinted for a criminal records check;

• ensuring that a Central Registry check is completed on all potential caregivers and all adult household members;

• ensuring that the identified caregivers are aware of the need for concurrent planning and the child’s need for a permanent caregiver in the event that reunification is not achieved;

• transitioning the child into the home of the identified caregivers if the child is not already placed;

• encouraging the caregivers to pursue foster home licensing; and

• providing services to support the child’s placement with the caregivers.

If a potential caregiver(s) has not been identified, complete an exhaustive search for a potential permanent caregiver, following the procedures outlined in Locating Missing Parents & Family for Notification.

If a potential permanent caregiver is located out-of-state, initiate the home study process via ICPC. See ICPC: Overview, Referrals & Placement.

If an exhaustive search for potential permanent caregivers has been completed and no potential caregiver has been identified, or all identified potential caregivers have been assessed and ruled out, consider placement of the child with a licensed foster family who:

• agrees to support continuing efforts to achieve family reunification; and

• if necessary, will provide a permanent home for the child if reunification is not achieved.

When the identity and whereabouts of the parents, guardians, and/or custodians is known, provide them with written notification of the concurrent planning activities. If the parents, guardians, and/or custodians are not available or missing, a copy of the case plan including concurrent planning activities should be provided to their attorney and to the parents, guardians, and/or custodians at the earliest opportunity. If the child is subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act, provide a copy of the plan to the child’s and parent’s, guardian’s, and/or custodian’s tribe, and the child’s Indian custodian.

The identification and assessment of alternate caregivers for a concurrent permanency goal of adoption shall only include individuals with whom the permanency goal of adoption can be finalized.

During contacts with the parents, guardians, and/or custodians, continue to:

• stress the importance of permanency for the child;

• discuss all available alternatives to achieve permanency for the child, including family reunification through successful change in behaviors or conditions that caused the child to be unsafe, consent to adoption, consent to guardianship, and adoption through termination of parental rights; and

• review progress toward the behavioral changes listed in the case plan.

Complete a review of the services and supports to achieve reunification at least every 90 days. Modify services and supports with the parents, guardians and/or custodians as necessary.

Within six months of actively working with the family on both the reunification plan and concurrent planning activities, a final concurrent permanency goal must be established.

Based on the circumstances of the case and consistent with the child’s best interests, consider and select the concurrent permanency goal:

• Adoption;

• Permanent Guardianship;

• APPLA.

For more information, see Selecting the Permanency Goal.

At critical decision points in the life of the case (each case plan staffing, Permanency Hearing, etc.), reassess the prognosis for successfully achieving family reunification. Refer to theReunification Prognosis Assessment Guide, DCS-1607 to guide the reassessment of prognosis for family reunification.

Review and revise the concurrent permanency plan and the related services and supports, as needed.

Documentation

In Notes, document discussions with each parent, guardian and/or custodian and child regarding the importance of permanency, the available alternatives to achieve permanency, and the possibility the permanency goal may change if significant progress toward the behavioral changes is not made by the time of the Permanency Hearing.

Document the initial assessment of the prognosis of family reunification and any concurrent planning activities in Notes designated as a Staffing note type.

When a concurrent goal is identified, document the concurrent permanency goal for each child in the Case Plan.

Document the concurrent planning activities (supports and services) to support the concurrent permanency plan in the Steps to Finalize Permanency Goal section of the Case Plan.

Document the reassessment and any modifications to the concurrent planning activities in Notes designated as a Staffing note type.

Document written notification to the parents of the concurrent permanency plan by obtaining their signature on the Case Plan Agreement page of the case plan and/or by filing a copy of the written correspondence to the parents in the hard copy case record.

Document the search for a potential permanent kinship foster family home as a DCS Locate Efforts type Note as described in Locating Missing Parents & Family for Notification.

Document the assessment of a potential permanent kinship foster family home as described in Kinship Care.

DCS Program Supervisor:

Document the review and approval of the initial and subsequent assessments of the prognosis for achieving family reunification in Notes.

DCS Program Administrator:

Document the review and approval of APPLA as the concurrent permanency plan in Notes.

Effective Date: March 15, 2024

Revision History: November 30, 2012, January 31, 2018, August 03, 2018, October 19, 2018, February 1, 2021