| DCF Initiated Removal - Non Emergency |
Except in the case of emergency removal,
the department shall provide notification to the foster parents, the child's attorney and
the child's guardian ad litem
· in writing (DCF-2082)
· at least fourteen (14) calendar days before removal
· of its decision to remove the child from the out of home care
provider
· of the reasons for the decision to remove the child
· of the provider’s right to request a removal hearing if the
provider disagrees with the removal.
|
| DCF Initiated Removal - Emergency |
In the case of an emergency removal, the
department shall provide notification to the foster parents, the child's attorney and the
child's guardian ad litem
· in writing (DCF-2082)
· at the time of the removal or as soon thereafter as possible
· of the reasons for the decision to remove the child
· of the provider’s right to request a removal hearing if the provider disagrees
with the removal.
|
| Written Notification |
Workers shall use "Notification to
Foster Parent / Certified Relative Placement of a Child's Placement Change"
(DCF-2082) when notifying the family, child's attorney and the child's guardian ad litem
of the placement change. The notice shall specify the reasons for the decision to remove
the child and should include statutory, regulatory and policy citations supporting the
decision.
A copy of the notification form shall be forwarded to the Division of
Administrative Law and Policy. |
| Removal of the Child |
Except in the case of emergency removal,
the child should not be removed from the foster home prior to the fourteen days indicated
in the notice letter.
The child may be removed from the foster home prior to the fourteen days provided in
the notice letter if
· the foster parents agree to the removal
· the foster parents request an earlier removal.
|
| Foster Parent Request
for Removal Hearing |
The foster parent has ten days to request
a removal hearing. The child should not be removed prior to ten days after notice of the
removal was provided unless
· the foster parents have indicated, in writing, they
- are in agreement with the child’s removal
- do not intend to request a removal hearing
· it is determined an emergency exists, or is suspected to exist, by
leaving the child in the home.
Note: An emergency includes any situation in which an
immediate threat to the physical or emotional health or welfare of a child exists or is
suspected.
If the foster parents request a removal hearing and are found to be
eligible for a hearing by the Administrative Hearings Unit, the worker must leave the
child in the home pending the outcome of the removal hearing unless it is determined an
emergency exists or is suspected to exist.
Note: Only foster parents/relative caretakers who have
had a child placed in their home for over twelve months are eligible for a removal
hearing.
|
| Foster Parent/ Caretaker Request for
Removal |
When foster parents/caretakers request
that a child be removed from their home, the child's worker or the worker's supervisor
shall meet with them and the child
· on the same day in the case of immediate removal request
or
· within five (5) working days in non-emergency situations.
Note: "Notification to Foster Parent / Certified
Relative Placement of a Child's Placement Change" (DCF-2082) shall be sent to the
family, child's attorney and the child's guardian ad litem in cases of foster
parent/caretaker requested removals. A copy of the notification form shall be
forwarded to the Administrative Hearings Unit, Division of Administrative Law and Policy.
|
| Removal Meeting Results |
The meeting with the foster parents
requesting a child’s removal shall be held to determine:
· the reason(s) for the request for the child's removal
· the impact upon the child of continuing the current placement
· services that were offered to maintain placement in the past
· the foster parents willingness to continue the placement, and
· what reasonable services (e.g., day care, parent aide) may enable
the foster parent to continue to care for the child.
|
| Documentation |
The results of this meeting, including decisions made and the
reason(s) for these decisions, shall be documented in the LINK narrative, including
whether future contact will occur between the foster parent(s) and child. |
| Actions by Child's Worker |
If it is in the child's best interest to
maintain the placement, the worker shall arrange for the agreed upon provision(s) of
service(s) and shall advise the FASU worker of the agreement.
If the outcome is to remove the child, the worker (or supervisor) shall
immediately contact the FASU unit to begin the search for a new placement.
If, in the worker's best judgment, the child is not in danger, the
foster parent(s) shall be asked to allow the child to remain in their home to allow a
planned move to a new placement for the child. |
| Counseling |
To the extent possible, counseling and
support shall be provided to the child and the foster family(s) around issues of
transition.
The worker shall assist the child with issues of loss pertaining to the
move to reduce the possibility of future placement failures.
The child who is old enough to understand the situation shall be
informed in person by the worker of the reasons for the move, and the child shall have
pre-placement visits to the new foster care setting. |
| Future Contact |
Contact between the child and the former
foster parent shall be allowed if it is deemed to be in the child's best interest and is
desired by the child. If the child is receiving counseling or therapy, the
counselor/therapist shall be contacted to assist in determining if continuing contact is
in the child’s best interest.
Contact between former and current caretakers may be encouraged through
the pre-approved exchange of telephone numbers, unless there is a specific reason why such
contact is inappropriate. |
