Transcript Treatment Plans and Administrative Case Reviews

Treatment Plans and
Administrative Case Reviews
In a Nutshell
Sources of Law

Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 –
Public Law 105-89.
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42 U.S.C.A. 622, 675
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54 C.F.R. § 1355, 1356, and 1357
Sources of Law
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Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-15
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DCF Policies
– Chapter 36 – Treatment Planning
– Chapter 24 – Administrative Case Reviews
Treatment Plans
Case plans must be developed for every child under
DCF supervision “within a reasonable period, to be
established by the State, but in no event later than 60
days” from the date of removal.
45 C.F.R. 1356.21(g)(2); Conn.Gen.Stat. § 17a-15; DCF
Policy No. 36-5-1.
Youth Who Turn 18

Under current state law, a youth who turns
18 but remains with DCF is entitled to a
treatment plan and review of such plan in
accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. Sections
17a-11 and 17a-15.
Types of Plans
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Initial Individual Treatment Plan
Ongoing Treatment Plan
Family Treatment Plan
Purpose of Treatment Plans
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To provide a “written working agreement”
between the child, family, caretaker service
provider, and DCF case worker.
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Document child and family needs, services to be
provided, reasonable efforts to prevent removal,
reasonable efforts to reunify, and progress.
DCF Policy No. 36-5-2.
Timelines for Treatment Plans
Treatment plan must be developed within
10 days of the treatment planning
conference.
 Treatment planning conference must occur
within 30 days of the time the case is
assigned to a treatment or voluntary
services worker.
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DCF Policy No. 36-5-3, 36-5-4.
Administrative Case Reviews
Each child must have a “case plan designed to
achieve placement in a safe setting that is the
least restrictive (most family like) and most
appropriate setting available and in close
proximity to the parents’ home, consistent
with the best interest and special needs of the
child . . . “
42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(A).
Administrative Case Reviews
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“[D]iscussion focused on the permanency
planning needs of the child”
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Must be held for every child in the physical
or legal custody of DCF.
DCF Policy No. 24-2.
Who Must Participate in ACRs?
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ACR Reviewer – Division of Quality Assurance
DCF Worker
DCF Supervisor
Any member of the RRG, community consultant,
support-staff worker, and/or community service
provider who has participated in any aspect of the
case in the seven (7) months prior to the review
DCF Policy No. 24-5.
Who Must be Invited to ACRs
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Child’s parents (unless TPR’d)
Child, if age 12 or above
Child’s foster parent or residential care social
worker
Counsel for the parents
Counsel for the children
Guardian ad litem for the children
DCF Policy No. 24-5.
May Others be Invited?

Yes
– Any other professional involved with the case
– Relatives of the child and parent if they are
involved in the service provision and/or can
contribute information important to case
planning
DCF Policy No. 24-5.
Timelines for ACRs
Reviews must occur every 6 months. The
first review must take place within 6 months
of the date the child enters foster care.
42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(B).
Timelines for ACRs
Must be completed no later than 30 days
beyond the ongoing treatment plan date and in
no event later than 6 months from the date of
placement.
DCF Policy No. 24-3.
Date of Entry Into Foster Care
Date of entry into foster care = 60 days
from the date of removal or the date of
adjudication, whichever is first
42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(F); 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a).