Virginia Law

A. The licensee shall develop and implement an individualized service plan for every child accepted for care and service.

B. For children in treatment foster care, the licensee shall:

1. Within 14 days of a child's placement, develop and implement individualized, measurable objectives and strategies describing services to be provided to the child, his placement family, and his birth family during the first 45 days of placement; and

2. Within 45 days of a child's placement, develop and implement an individualized service plan and treatment plan.

C. In the case of a short-term foster care placement of a child, the licensee shall develop and implement the service plan within 72 hours of the child's placement and the short-term placement plan shall include a description of the child's needs and services to be provided to the child during the duration of his short-term placement.

D. When the licensee has received legal custody of the child, the licensee shall within 60 days of receipt of such custody file a copy of the service plan with the appropriate court unless:

1. The court grants an extension of time not to exceed 60 days;

2. The court designates another agency to file the service plan; or

3. The child is returned to his prior family or placed in an adoptive home.

E. The licensee shall include the following elements in the child's individualized service plan:

1. A comprehensive assessment of the child's emotional, social, behavioral, educational, nutritional, developmental, medical, psychiatric, and dental needs;

2. The nature of the placement to be provided to the child;

3. Goals and objectives to meet the child's needs that include:

a. For children or youth 14 years of age and older, specific independent living services to be provided to assist the child in meeting his goals; and

b. For children in treatment foster care, goals and objectives to address specific problem behaviors, skills to be addressed, and criteria for achievement;

4. Anticipated target dates, including month, day, and year, for accomplishment of each identified goal and objective, and for treatment foster care the target date for the child's discharge from the program;

5. Strategies, services, and activities designed to meet the goals and objectives, including:

a. A description of how the licensee plans to work with related community resources, including the child's primary care physician, to provide continuity of care to the child;

b. The services and other supports to be offered to the child's parents and other prior custodians;

c. A description of the participation and conduct sought from the parent and prior custodians;

d. Visitation between the child, his parents, prior custodians, and siblings;

e. For children 14 years of age and older, specific independent living services to be provided to assist the child in meeting his goals; and

f. For treatment foster care, methods of intervention and therapies designed to meet the child's goals and objectives;

6. Discharge goals, objectives, and services to be provided for their achievement and where appropriate, plans for reunification of the child with his family; and

7. As appropriate for youth 16 years of age and older, a description of programs and services to assist the youth in his transition from foster care to independent living.

F. The child's record shall contain documentation showing the involvement of the following parties, unless clearly inappropriate, in developing the child's individualized service plan, child's treatment plan as appropriate, and quarterly progress reports; and in updating the service plan and treatment plan as necessary:

1. The birth parents of the child unless parental rights have been terminated; or unless the birth parents who maintain parental rights of the child have not been located;

2. Custodial agency;

3. Foster parents or treatment foster parents where appropriate;

4. The child, if the involvement is consistent with the best interests of the child; and

5. Licensee staff.

G. The licensee shall document in the file of the child the reasons why each party was not involved if any of the parties do not participate in the development of the child's individualized service plan, treatment plan as appropriate, or quarterly progress reviews and updating the service plan and treatment plan.

H. For service plans, court reviews, dispositional hearings, and permanency planning, the licensee who has custody shall follow the requirements set forth in §§ 63.2-906 B, 16.1-281, 16.1-282, and 16.1-282.1 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Social Services-approved policies and promulgated regulations, and guidance documents issued by the department.

I. Each service plan shall contain the date the plan was written; the signature of the individual who developed the plan; and, for treatment foster care treatment plans, the identity of all treatment team members who participated in the development of the plan.

J. The licensee shall provide training, support, and guidance to families in implementing the service plan for the child.

K. The licensee shall provide a copy of the child's service plan and any updates, treatment plan and updates as appropriate, and quarterly progress reports to the custodial placing agency and, as applicable, to the birth parents, foster parents, and treatment foster parents as long as confidential identifying information about the parents is not disclosed.

L. Obtain from the custodial child-placing agency a copy of the child's service plan sent to the court. The service plan shall be placed in the child's file. In the event the licensee is not able to obtain the plan, the licensee shall document in the child's file the efforts made to obtain the plan.

M. The service plans developed by the licensee shall be compatible with the goals in the plan sent to the court.