Virginia Law

A. Services shall be provided to support the safety and well-being of the child. Services to children and birth parents or prior custodians shall continue until evidence indicates the services are either not effective to reach the child's goal or no longer necessary because the goal has been achieved, or the birth parent or prior custodian has refused services.

B. Permanency planning for children and birth parents or prior custodians shall be an inclusive process providing full disclosure to the birth parents or prior custodians of the establishment of a concurrent permanency goal and the implications of concurrent permanency planning for the child and birth parents or prior custodians. Local departments shall notify the birth parents or prior custodians concerning placement changes, hearings and meetings regarding the child, and assessments of needs and case progress and shall be responsive to the requests of the child and birth parents or prior custodians.

C. In order to ensure that permanency is achieved for the child, services may be provided to relatives or other interested individuals who are assessed to be potential permanency options for the child and may continue until an assessment indicates the services are no longer necessary.

D. Developmental and medical examinations shall be provided for the child in foster care in accordance with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services' Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) schedule in the Virginia EPSDT Periodicity Chart. Dental examinations shall be provided for the child in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Periodicity and Anticipatory Guidance Recommendations (Dental Health Guidelines-Ages 0-18 Years, Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Dental Care (AAPD Reference Manual 2002-2003)) as determined by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. As indicated through assessment, appropriate health care services shall include trauma, developmental, mental health, psychosocial, and substance abuse services and treatments. Local departments shall follow the protocols for appropriate and effective use of psychotropic medications for children in foster care disseminated by the department.

E. All children in foster care shall have a face-to-face contact with an approved service worker at least once per calendar month regardless of the child's permanency goal or placement. More than 50% of each child's visits shall be in his place of residency.

1. The purpose of the visits shall be to assess the child's progress, needs, adjustment to placement, and other significant information related to the health, safety, and well-being of the child.

2. The visits shall be made by individuals who meet the department's requirements consistent with 42 USC § 622(b).

F. The local department shall enter into a placement agreement developed by the department with the foster or adoptive parents. As required by § 63.2-900 of the Code of Virginia, the placement agreement shall include, at a minimum, a code of ethics and mutual responsibilities for all parties to the agreement.

1. Services to prevent placement disruptions shall be provided to the foster and adoptive parents.

2. Foster and adoptive parents who have children placed with them shall be contacted by a service worker as often as needed in accordance with 22VAC40-211-100 to assess service needs and progress.

3. Foster and adoptive parents shall be given full factual information about the child, including circumstances that led to the child's removal and complete educational, medical, and behavioral information. All information shall be kept confidential by the foster and adoptive parents.

4. Foster and adoptive parents shall be given the foster care plan.

5. Respite care for foster and adoptive parents may be provided on an emergency or planned basis.

6. The department shall make funds available to provide reimbursement to local departments' foster parents for damages to property caused by children placed in the home. Provision of reimbursement is contingent upon the availability of funds.

G. Pursuant to § 63.2-904 of the Code of Virginia, the local department shall implement policies and procedures to support normalcy for children in foster care. Foster parents and group home and residential providers shall make day-to-day decisions regarding a child's participation in age-appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities based on the reasonable and prudent parent standard and in accordance with the agreement entered into between the provider and local department.

1. Pursuant to 42 USC § 671(a)(10)(B), the department shall ensure that foster parents and group home and residential providers are trained in normalcy and how to use and apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard. Each group home and residential provider shall designate at least one official staff member on site to be the caregiver who is authorized to apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

2. No other policy or procedure shall interfere with the ability to implement normalcy.