Within one hundred and twenty (120) days after admitting a child/youth on a voluntary basis, the Voluntary Services Social Worker shall petition the probate court for a determination as to whether continuation in the Voluntary Services Program is in the child’s best interest and, if so, if the Treatment Plan is appropriate.

The Voluntary Services Program petition (Petition/Motion for a Dispositional Hearing on Continuance of Care or Placement of Child/Youth, CM-48) shall be filed on forms provided by the Probate Court.

The Voluntary Services Program petition shall be filed in the probate court for the district in which the parent/guardian of the child/youth resides.

The Voluntary Services Program petition shall include a copy of the child/youth’s Treatment Plan.

A hearing shall be scheduled with the probate court as prescribed by the Probate Court Practice Book.

The hearing shall be held within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the child/youth’s admission into the Voluntary Services Program and on an annual basis thereafter.  The Social Worker shall submit a copy of the Treatment Plan to the Probate Court where

• the permanency plan is identified, and

• the reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency plan are outlined.

It is the responsibility of the Voluntary Services Social Worker to file a motion on an annual basis requesting a dispositional hearing on the status of the child/youth.

Cross-Reference:   Policy 37-8, Probate Court Review.