Filing Court Documents 624-05-15-14

(New 2/1/22 ML #3657)

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NDCC 27-20.3-17 requires custodial agencies to develop and submit an initial and ongoing “family case plan” to the committing juvenile court by e-filing into the court system. Custodial agencies must upload the progress for every child with a valid court order. The progress reports provide an update to the court to review and determine whether the achievement of permanency is occurring timely for the child.

 

This policy includes foster children under the custody of an agency with a termination of parental rights (TPR) or placement and care in the 18+ Continued Care Program. TPR and 18+ cases have a valid court order and require quarterly progress be e-filed to the court until permanency is achieved.

 

Initial - New Case

  1. Upload the initial family case plan within 60 days of entry into foster care.
  2. “Family Case Plan” is defined by foster care policy to include:
  1. Case plan (Tool 6),
  2. Out of home safety plan (Tool 4), and
  3. History of foster care placements since entry into care.

Quarterly Progress – Opened Cases

  1. Upload the quarterly family case plan progress report
  2. “Family Case Plan Progress Report” is defined in foster care policy to include:
  1. Protective Capacities Progress Assessment (PCPA -Tool 7), and
  2. History of foster care placements in the past quarter.

Juvenile Court E-filing:

Juvenile Court created training specific to e-filing documents into the court file. Custodial agencies must determine which employees will be uploading the documents and require the staff to take the online training to file properly. The custodial agency must code the plan as a “report” and comment on the type of report filed.

  1. Family Plans
  1. Code = Report
  2. Filing Comment = Initial report plan or quarterly plan
  1. Placement History
  1. Code = Report
  2. Filing Comment = Placement History
  3. There is not a specific document required for placement history. Custodial case managers can decide how to best provide this information (Ex: screen shot of placement history saved as a PDF) to the court.

File and Serve Training Links:

• https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-resources/rules/ndrct/3-5

• https://www.ndcourts.gov/district-courts/e-filing-portal

 

When registering online do not enter an agency credit card, as there not a charge to e-file. Agencies may select “waiver”.

 

Redacting: If the custodial agency feels it is necessary to redact documents specific to parental involvement and parental services, the agency can choose to redact or e-file documentation separately.