1. (a) The Family Service Worker will:

   1. (1) Review the:

      1. (A) Most current FAST or CANS, as appropriate, for the child and family;
      2. (B) Investigation allegation;
      3. (C) Findings from the allegation; and
      4. (D) Reason for removal, if applicable;
   2. (2) Assign actionable items on the FAST or CANS into subgroupings as appropriate;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Complete an initial case plan in CHRIS within thirty (30) days of opening a services case or a child entering an out-of-home placement, whichever comes first.
      2. (B) A case plan must be completed on all cases — including supportive services and in-home services cases — and will include the following:

2. (i) A description of the out-of-home placement, if applicable, with regard to the health and safety of the child;

   1. (ii) A plan for ensuring a child receives safe and proper care;

      1. (iii) A discussion of the appropriateness of the services that have been provided to the child;

         1. (iv) A plan for ensuring services are provided to the child and caregiver to improve conditions in the caregiver’s home and facilitate return of the child, if applicable, or the permanent placement of the child;
         2. (v) A plan for ensuring services are provided to the child and foster parents to address the needs of the child while in out-of-home placement, if applicable;
         3. (vi) The visitation rights and obligations of the parents, guardian or custodian, and the Division of Children and Family Services during the period the child is in an out-of-home placement, if applicable;
         4. (vii)
3. (a) (a) A description of the location of siblings.

4. (b) (b) If siblings are separated, the reasons why joint placement would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings as well as documentation of efforts for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction, unless the division documents that frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings;

   1. (viii) A transitional plan for a child fourteen (14) years of age or over that will help prepare the child for successful transition to adulthood (see Policy VIII-A);

      1. (ix) A discussion of how the case plan is designed to achieve a safe placement for the child in the least restrictive (most family-like) setting available and in close proximity to the home of the caregiver or caregivers when the case plan goal is reunification, and a discussion of how the placement is consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child;

         1. (x) The reasons why it is in the best interest of the child if he or she has been placed in an out-of-home placement, if applicable, that is a substantial distance from the home of the caregiver or has been placed out-of-state;
         2. (xi) A discussion of the safety and appropriateness of the placement and how the division plans to carry out the judicial determination made with respect to the child that:
5. (a) (a) Continuance in the home is contrary to the welfare of the child, or that placement would be in the best interest of the child; and

6. (b) (b) Reasonable efforts to prevent a child’s removal from home or to reunify the child and family are not required;

   1. (xii) If the child has been placed in foster care in a state outside the state in which the child’s caregiver or caregivers are located, ensure that the caseworker of either state visits the foster home or institution no less frequently than every six (6) months and submits a report on the visit to the state agency of the state where the home of the child’s parent or parents is located;

      1. (xiii)
7. (a) (a) Assurance that each child who has attained the minimum age for school is a full-time elementary or secondary school student or has completed secondary school.

8. (b) (b) This includes:

   1. (1) (1) Public schools;
   2. (2) (2) Private schools; and

   3. (3) (3) Home school programs.

      1. (c) (c) This should also include the most recent information available regarding:
   4. (1) (1) Names and addresses of the child’s health and educational providers;
   5. (2) (2) Child’s grade level performance;
   6. (3) (3) Child’s school record;
   7. (4) (4) Assurances the child’s placement in foster care, if applicable, takes into account the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement; and

   8. (5) (5) Any other relevant education information concerning the child determined to be appropriate;

      1. (xiv) The health records of the child including the most recent information available regarding:
9. (a) (a) Record of the child’s immunizations;

10. (b) (b) Child’s known medical problems;

    1. (c) (c) Regularly updated information regarding any medical conditions that cause the child to be incapable of attending school (see 9 CAR § 40-719);

       1. (d) (d) Child’s medications; and

11. (e) (e) Any other relevant health information concerning the child determined to be appropriate; and

    1. (xv)

12. (a) (a) Documentation of the steps taken to:

    1. (1) (1) Find an adoptive family or other permanent living arrangement for the child;
    2. (2) (2) Place the child with an adoptive family, a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or in another planned permanent living arrangement; and
    3. (3) (3) Finalize the adoption or legal guardianship.

13. (b) (b) At a minimum, documentation shall include child specific recruitment efforts such as the use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges including electronic exchange systems.

    1. (c) (c) This applies in the case of a child for whom the permanency plan is adoption or placement in another permanent home;
    2. (4) Print the case plan;
    3. (5) Explain and discuss the case plan with the family to help ensure the family’s understanding of case plan goals, actions, roles, responsibilities, and timeframes;
    4. (6) Have all applicable family members sign the completed case plan;
    5. (7) Provide the family and all parties to the case with copies of the signed case plan;
    6. (8) Place the signed case plan in the client record;
    7. (9) File the case plan with the court no later than thirty (30) days after the date the petition was filed, if applicable, or the child was first placed out-of-home, whichever is sooner; and

    8. (10)

       1. (A) Using information from the updated FAST or CANS, as applicable, review and update the case plan as necessary during case plan staffings held at a minimum of every three (3) months for both in-home services cases and out-of-home placement cases.

       2. (B) Case plan packet for court-involved cases includes:

          1. (i) Case plan CHRIS case report;
          2. (ii) Completed FAST for in-home cases or completed CANS for out-of-home cases; and
          3. (iii) If a child or children are in Department of Human Services custody:
14. (a) (a) CFS-6008: Placement Plan CHRIS Case Report (if appropriate);

15. (b) (b) CFS-6018: Placement History CHRIS Case Report (if appropriate);

    1. (c) (c) CFS-7010: Visits Report CHRIS Case Report (if appropriate);

       1. (d) (d) CFS-6012: Client Medical and Psychological Information CHRIS Case Report (if appropriate);
16. (e) (e) CFS-6010 Addendum A: Visitation Plan/Visitation Schedule CHRIS Net Template (form for worker to type in info) (if appropriate); and
17. (f) (f) Completed comprehensive health assessment.

18. (b) Case plan packet for noncourt-involved case plans:

    1. (1) Case plan CHRIS case report;
    2. (2) Completed Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST); and

    3. (3) Any case specific attachments (i.e., grades, provider information, etc.) as appropriate.

       1. (c) The FSW Supervisor will:
    4. (1) Conference with the FSW as necessary throughout the development of and adjustments to the case plan; and

    5. (2) Approve the case plan once it is sufficiently completed by the FSW within:

       1. (A) Thirty (30) days of opening the case (whether in-home services or out-of-home placement) or a child’s entering an out-of-home placement; and
       2. (B) Every three (3) months thereafter for in-home services and out-of-home placement cases.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "02/2015"