(a)

1. (1) Each county child welfare agency shall adopt a policy for supporting foster children who are transitioning between placement settings and who are transitioning from foster care to reunification. The placement transition planning policy shall include both of the following components:

   1. (A) Ensure that foster children are provided the opportunity to provide input on their placement transition, as developmentally and age appropriate and ensure that the child’s current or most recent caregiver also has input into the transition needs of the child.
   2. (B) Provide guidance to social workers for obtaining input and sharing information in placement transition planning and incorporating the planning into case plans in such a way as to support the strengths and needs of children and to reduce trauma and any psychological, cultural, developmental, relational, spiritual, or emotional harm to the foster child.

2. (2) In developing the placement transition policy, the county child welfare agency shall consult with foster youth, caregivers, and tribes to create a placement transition policy that includes all of the following:

   1. (A) Consideration of a child’s educational, medical, mental health, religious or faith-based, cultural, dietary, extracurricular and social, and developmental needs.
   2. (B) How to maintain permanent connections for the child, including supporting relationships with relatives, friends, and in the case of an Indian child, extended family members and the child’s tribe, and other individuals who are important to the child, and continuity in health care, education, child daycare, extracurricular and social activities, and other community involvement.
   3. (C) How transitions will be managed, including timing, preparation for the move, such as visits or contact with the current and new care providers, ensuring the child has all of their possessions, how the child will be transported to the new placement, and how the child can participate in scheduled upcoming events and activities.
   4. (D) How the social worker will ensure that the transition plan is carried out as designed and how any necessary adjustments will occur and be communicated.
   5. (E) The designation of an individual who will communicate with the child, and in the case of an Indian child, the child’s tribe, throughout the transition process to ensure the child understands what is happening and who is involved in decisionmaking.

(b)

1. (1) The department, in consultation with counties that have implemented placement transition planning and with other stakeholders who have placement transition planning expertise, shall issue guidance to county child welfare agencies to describe best practices and strategies for successful placement transition planning.
2. (2) A county child welfare agency shall submit to the department its placement transition planning policy, via email or other correspondence, no later than one year after the department has issued its guidance and provided funding to counties to develop their placement transition planning policies.