Reasonable or Active Efforts - To Finalize a Permanency Plan 624-05-15-25-05

(Revised 1/15/21 ML #3606)

View Archives

 

 

 

Reasonable or active efforts to finalize the permanency plan are required within twelve months of the date the child entered foster care, and at least once every twelve months thereafter while the child is in foster care. Permanency goals include reunification, legal guardianship, placement with a fit and willing relative, another planned permanent living arrangement or adoption.

 

To support judicial determinations to finalize a permanent plan and to document reasonable or active efforts, the agency must organize and maintain its documentation of such efforts. This documentation includes:

1. Authorization or reports of other services provided to help in reunification of the child and family.
2. Any treatment plan or permanency case plan which describes efforts to reunify the child and family.
3. Visitation schedules and engagement strategies with the parent/s.
4. If reunification is not possible; evidence of efforts to recruit, locate, train, approve or license the alternate placement.
5. Details of the preparations for transition into a permanent placement.
6. Any other evidence of services planned and/or provided including the service outcome.

 

The agency must provide to the court evidence of reasonable or active efforts to finalize the permanent plan at every permanency hearing and must provide the court adequate information to assure that the court record reflects the judicial finding with respect to such reasonable or active efforts.

 

NOTE: Whenever the court makes a determination that reasonable or active efforts to reunify are not (or no longer) required, a permanency hearing in court must be held within 30 days of such determination, unless the requirements of the permanency hearing are fulfilled at the hearing in which the reasonable or active efforts determination was made.