(a)

1. (1) The Division of Children and Family Services will ensure timely permanency for children entering out-of-home placement.
2. (2) Concurrent planning includes working towards the goal of returning the child to the parents while concurrently working on alternative permanent placements.
3. (3) Concurrent planning will be done for all out-of-home placement cases except for those cases where the court determines no reasonable efforts to provide reunification services.
4. (4) The level and degree of concurrent planning will be on a case-by-case basis.
5. (5) The division worker will immediately develop and implement a realistic concurrent plan.

(b) The Family Service Worker will:

1. (1) Inform the family of the concurrent planning process;
2. (2) Emphasize the importance of family involvement and partnerships in establishing permanency for children in out-of-home placements;

3. (3)

   1. (A) Request parental input in identifying relatives and significant others who may be appropriate caregivers and initiate contact and home studies.
   2. (B) The family will be required by court order to provide information identifying other relatives;

4. (4)

   1. (A) Use the identified contact information to locate and contact named relatives to assist in the child’s placement as prescribed in 9 CAR § 40-701.
   2. (B) Information on the putative father or any absent parent should be obtained and submitted on the CFS-408: Federal Parent Locator System Information to the local Office of Chief Counsel attorney.
   3. (C) Lexis Nexis may be used if appropriate.
   4. (D) In considering placements, foster parents should be viewed as a resource;
5. (5) Initiate the completion of the life story book for all children in out-of-home care;

6. (6)

   1. (A) Complete the initial CFS-6010: Case Plan within thirty (30) days and document all concurrent planning activities in the appropriate section of the case plan (see 9 CAR § 40-506).
   2. (B) The CFS-6010: Case Plan should document tasks that support reunification as well as permanency activities;
7. (7) Complete the CFS-456: Birth Family Background Information within sixty (60) days of case opening;

8. (8)

   1. (A) At the second staffing (ninety (90) days), invite the Adoption Specialist if the court determines reunification services are not required, or the division is recommending termination of parental rights.
   2. (B) The CFS-6010: Case Plan developed from this staffing should assign tasks and responsibilities to the FSW and Adoption Specialist; and

9. (9)

   1. (A) Invite the Adoption Specialist to participate in the sixth month, ninth month, and eleventh month staffing if it appears likely that the child will not return home or if the goal for the child is adoption.
   2. (B) The CFS-6010: Case Plan will assign tasks and responsibilities to the Family Service Worker and Adoption Specialist.

(c)

1. (1) The Adoption Specialist will participate in the sixth month, ninth month, and eleventh month staffing if it appears likely that the child will not return home or if the goal for the child is adoption.
2. (2) The CFS-6010: Case Plan will assign tasks and responsibilities to the Family Service Worker and Adoption Specialist.