1201 Child Placement Services
- for every child entering the foster care system;
- with an adult;
- with whom the child has a continuous, reciprocal relationship; and
- within a minimum amount of time.
For children and youth in the custody and placement responsibility of the county department of social services (DSS), permanence occurs when he/she has a lasting, nurturing legally secure relationship with at least one adult that is characterized by mutual commitment1.
This philosophy shall form the basis for all casework activity and decision-making. The county department of social services has the responsibility of never giving up on permanency for children and youth in its custody or placement responsibility. Concepts that guide permanency planning are the following:
- The minimum sufficient level of care is what every child needs to grow and develop safely. Society requires that parents provide this level of care and intervention by the agency is required when this level of care is not provided. However, the agency should not intervene in families to ensure a higher level of care for children based solely on a social worker’s personal values about the ideal level of care for children. The county department of social services’ authority to intervene occurs only when a parent’s level of care for a child falls below the minimum sufficient level, with the safety of the child as the paramount concern. When children must be removed from their parents, reunification should occur when parents can demonstrate their ability to provide at least a minimum sufficient level of care.
- The least detrimental alternative is the term to describe the choice that must be made for a child. This term clearly illustrates that each time something is done for the child; something is done to the child.
- care, by its very nature, has the potential to cause harm to the child. Each move hurts the child because each separation causes feelings of loss and grief. Achieving permanence for children as early as possible is vital. County departments of social services shall help parents who are seeking reunification with their child. At the same time, agencies shall explore and develop alternative permanent plans that can be implemented if reunification is not possible (please refer to the information on concurrent permanency planning found within Chapter IV; Section 1201; The Children’s Services Yellow Pages: Tools for Enhanced Practice for additional information). These alternative plans help ensure a permanency for children even if they are not able to return home. Agencies shall be committed to a permanent resolution of the child’s foster care status. Permanent resolutions include family reunification, custodial kinship care, legal guardianship, or adoption.
- Goal oriented casework ensures that all activity is focused on achieving permanency. Goal oriented casework also ensures that all permanency options are explored at the same time in the event that reunification is not possible. Placement of the child for adoption provides the most permanent alternative when reunification is not possible. Adoption by a relative, other kin, or foster family should always be considered as an alternative permanent plan. If neither reunification nor adoption is possible, custody or guardianship to relatives, kin, or foster parents provides another permanency option.
- Time limited focus recognizes that the child’s sense of time should guide casework practice, and a sense of urgency is needed in achieving a permanent plan for each child.
1 A “legally secure placement” is defined as a placement in which the direct caregiver has the legal authority to make parental decisions on behalf of the child.
