1. (a) The Family Service Worker will:

   1. (1) Invite supervisors, parents, or guardian, and if there is court involvement, Court- Appointed Special Advocate (CASA, if applicable), all parties’ attorneys, foster parents, caretaker, age-appropriate child, and any other involved party in the case plan;
   2. (2) Inform families of their right to have their attorney present;
   3. (3) Furnish written notice to the child, if of appropriate age (ten (10) years or older);
   4. (4) Furnish written notice of the staffing CFS-590: Invitation to Family-Centered Meeting (complete with date, time, and location to all participants at least two (2) weeks prior to the staffing;

   5. (5)

      1. (A) File copies of the CFS-590: Invitation to Family-Centered Meeting in the case record.
      2. (B) Include documentation of the reason, if the child was not able to attend;
   6. (6) Document on the case plan any parent’s unwillingness to participate and provide this written documentation to the parent if available;

   7. (7) Conduct the:

      1. (A) Initial staffing within thirty (30) days of opening the case (whether in-home services of out-of-home placement) or a child’s entering an out-of-home placement, whichever comes first regarding out-of-home placement cases; and
      2. (B) Subsequent staffings at least every three (3) months for in-home services and out-of- home placement cases;
   8. (8) Complete the original case plan by the initial staffing and update the case plan as needed after subsequent staffings;

   9. (9) Review the case plan for compliance by the participants and update as necessary to reflect:

      1. (A) Progress made;
      2. (B) New factual circumstances; and
      3. (C) New goals;

   10. (10)

       1. (A) Conduct a permanency planning staffing at the eleventh month of case opening.
       2. (B) Invite the Adoption Specialist and all other parties involved in the case; and
   11. (11) Conduct a staffing before closing a case to review progress and determine that closure is appropriate.

2. (b) The FSW Supervisor will:

   1. (1) Conference with the FSW as necessary regarding case plan staffings; and
   2. (2) Attend all case plan staffings if possible.

3. (c) The Area Director will:

   1. (1) Hold a special case staffing within two (2) weeks of the third move, whenever a child has been in three (3) or more out-of-home placements within a twelve-month period;
   2. (2) Address the reasons for the frequent moves;
   3. (3) Determine what steps shall be taken to prevent future placement disruptions;

   4. (4) Include the:

      1. (A) Family Service Worker;
      2. (B) Supervisor;
      3. (C) Foster parents;
      4. (D) Age-appropriate child; and
      5. (E) Any appropriate service providers and/or life connections for the child; and
   5. (5) Conduct a staffing to review the status of a child placed in long-term, out-of-home care.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Some persons will attend the entire staffing, while others will attend only the portion of the staffing relating to the area in which they are involved.
   2. (2) Confidentiality prevents sharing information with unauthorized individuals.

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