1201 Child Placement Services

VIII. CASE REVIEWS

The case of every child in the custody or placement responsibility of a county department of social serves shall be reviewed by a Permanency Planning Action Team and documented on the Family Services Agreement Review (dss-5241). Permanency Planning Action Teams should be action-oriented. These teams are valuable in achieving a safe, permanent home for every child in foster care placement within one year. While these teams are needed to review agency decisions, they are also responsible for ensuring that every foster care case moves quickly toward a permanent resolution.

Permanency Planning Action Teams are open, non-adversarial forums for focusing on casework practice and planning. They are the embodiment of System of Care Principles, where agencies and families collaborate. The Permanency Planning Action Team process allows each party involved to have input into service needs of the child and family; to document progress of the parents in improving the conditions that led to foster care placement; to develop the most appropriate permanent plan; and to ensure that permanency is achieved for every child. The Action Team process also ensures that the plan that is developed will be followed regardless of changes in social work staff. In addition, parties with disagreements can address them prior to court hearings, helping each to understand the position of the others, and thus providing the opportunity for informed negotiation.