Chapter 3 : Section 3.4

Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement

Procedures

Prior to selecting a permanency goal of APPLA, the Department must conduct intensive and ongoing efforts to return the youth home or secure a permanent caregiver for the youth with a fit and willing relative (including adult siblings), a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent.

Efforts to return a youth home shall include a thorough assessment of safety threats that prevented the parent(s) from caring for the youth without the involvement of the Department. See Family Reunification.

Efforts to secure a permanent living arrangement with a fit and willing relative, legal guardian, or an adoptive parent shall include child specific recruitment efforts such as the use of State, regional, and national adoption exchanges including electronic exchange systems to facilitate orderly and timely in-state and interstate placements, and the use of search technology (including social media) to find biological family members for the youth.

A goal of APPLA is selected when the youth is likely to reach the age of majority while in out-of-home care, and may only be selected if these ongoing reunification and permanency efforts have been unsuccessful and are documented. See Locating Missing Parents and Family for Notification.

Selecting APPLA as the Permanency Goal

Gather and review information specific to the following discussion points with the DCS Supervisor to determine if a permanency goal of APPLA is in the best interests of the youth:

• the results of the current Family Functioning Assessment including:

  • the identified impending danger threat and whether or not it remains active within the family environment;

  • whether or not any additional safety threats have been identified;

  • the result of the in-home safety analysis questions;

  • whether or not the youth is able to return home with an in-home safety plan; and

  • whether or not previously identified safety threats have been resolved and the child has been assessed as safe.

If there is not a safety threat identified, review the reasons the child remains in out-of-home care and arrange for necessary supportive services to facilitate reunification.

Complete a comprehensive search for biological and kinship family and review the results of previous family locate efforts. Determine whether the youth has identified or been asked to identify any person who the youth would like to pursue as a permanent caregiver or permanent supportive person. Determine if efforts to locate and contact any identified person(s) have been made.

Discuss the results of the search with the youth. For each person located, discuss with the youth their desire to include the person in case planning and services, including exploration of the person as a potential permanent caregiver. If search efforts did not locate any biological or kinship family, discuss with the youth the plan for continuous efforts to identify and pursue permanent connections, including the potential for change in the permanency goal (to adoption or permanent guardianship at the youth's request).

Explore the benefits of adoption and guardianship with the youth. Determine whether or not there is a documented reason that adoption or guardianship is not in the youth’s best interest.

A documented reason that adoption or guardianship is not in the youth’s best interest may only be based on the youth’s own wishes, a documented legal barrier to termination of parental rights, or another documented compelling reason. See Selecting the Permanency Goal. Ensure the youth is fully informed of the documented reason.

Determine if the youth is willing to consent to adoption.

Determine if there is an unresolvable barrier to adoption or permanent guardianship of the youth by the kinship or licensed foster home caregiver, and if it is in the youth's best interest to remain with the caregiver.

Identifying a Permanent Living Arrangement

The DCS Specialist must identify the proposed or planned permanent living arrangement, and formalize the arrangement through a written agreement.

Discuss with the youth and the kinship or licensed foster caregiver their desire and commitment to continue as a permanent supportive adult in the youth’s life and their willingness to maintain an ongoing relationship into the youth’s adulthood.

Discuss with the youth and the kinship or licensed foster caregiver their willingness to ensure the youth maintains connections with their immediate and extended family.

Discuss with the kinship or licensed foster caregiver their ability and willingness to apply the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard to ensure normalcy for the youth.

Review the importance of positive permanent connections in a youth's life as related to the youth's overall well-being and adult functioning. Assist the youth and kinship or licensed foster caregiver to discuss and plan for what their relationship will "look like" as the youth enters adulthood and exits foster care.

Identify and document the actual or proposed permanent living arrangement that describes the caregiver’s relationship to the youth (and specify the caregiver by name, if identified and with permission of the caregiver). For example, the permanent living arrangement may be with a licensed foster family with whom the youth has a significant relationship, or with a relative/kin caregiver.

When the living arrangement is not permanent and if in the child’s best interests, the DCS Specialist shall assist the youth to explore other potential permanent living arrangements and supportive adult relationships to foster a positive transition to adulthood, and in accordance with the youth’s preference. See Young Adult Living Arrangements.

For more information on selecting a kinship caregiver, see Kinship Care.

Formalizing the Planned Permanent Living Arrangement

Formalize a plan for the youth to reside in a permanent living arrangement by completing the Permanent Placement Agreement, CSO-1026A when the identified permanent arrangement is an adult caregiver who commits to:

• providing the best possible care to the youth until at least age 18 (and may continue beyond age 18, to age 21, if in the youth’s best interest);

• being a positive, supportive connection into the youth’s adulthood;

• applying the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard to ensure normalcy; and participating in necessary planning to support the youth’s successful transition to adulthood.

Request the court to grant physical custody of the child to the out-of-home caregiver (if this has not previously occurred).

Formalize a plan for the youth to reside in an permanent living arrangement (i.e. in a community based transitional living program, school dormitory, on their own through the Independent Living Subsidy Program, etc.). If the Independent Living Subsidy will be used to support the permanent living arrangement, ensure all related forms are completed timely. See Young Adult Living Arrangements.

Transition Planning for Youth in a Planned Permanent Living Arrangement

For all youth in Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement:

• Provide transition planning and services as described in Services and Supports to Prepare Youth for Adulthood.

• Ensure the transition plan outlines the services to be provided that will support the youth building the skills necessary to prepare for adulthood.

• Support continued contact between the youth and their parents, siblings, and extended family members, unless such contact would be detrimental to the youth.

• Continue efforts to create positive, supportive relationships between the youth and their parents, kin, and others through in-person and phone contact, written communication and visitation, as appropriate for the safety and well-being of the youth; and whenever possible, maintain contact with the youth’s parents or extended family, to:

  • inform and involve the family in decisions about the youth where feasible; and

  • stay informed of changes in the family situation that might indicate a need to re-evaluate the permanency goal of APPLA, unless such contact would compromise the safety of the youth.

• Monitor the family and case for changes that may support future reunification, adoptive placement, or placement with a permanent guardian.

• Communicate with the out-of-home caregiver to ensure that the caregiver follows the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard, and the youth has regular opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities.

Documentation

Document APPLA as the permanency goal in the case plan.

Document the specific type of planned permanent living arrangement (i.e. with the kinship or licensed foster family, residing in school dormitory, living on own with support of the Independent Living Subsidy, etc.) in the transition plan.

Document the formalization of permanent placement with a kinship or licensed foster caregiver as the permanent living arrangement, using the Permanent Placement Agreement.

Document case management activities in the court report for each report and review hearing and permanency hearing.

Effective Date: February 1, 2021

Revision History: November 30, 2012, November 28, 2018