Tracking# 2012-00043
FA/P 3/2/12, eff. 5/1/12

I:/11112901.rtf
(I:11112901.doc)

(12 CCR 2509-1) 

[Note: Statement of Basis and Purpose is incorporated with Tracking #2012-00046 (Agency Rule-Making #11-10-3-1).] 

*******************

(12 CCR 2509-4)

[Instructions: insert new section before line 1670714.] 
7.300.1  FAMILY ENGAGEMENT [Eff. 5/1/12]
County departments of human/social services shall adopt family engagement practices.  Family engagement means joining with the family/kin to establish common goals of safety, well-being, and permanency throughout the involvement and is inclusive of other systems. This is an overarching theme of practice throughout service assessment, planning, and delivery. Family engagement practice shall include, but not be limited to, family meetings, cultural responsiveness, and reflect the core principles below: 
A.  It focuses on the strengths and interests of the child, youth, and family. 
B.  It promotes family and youth choice through family and youth-driven decisions. 
C.  It actively supports that all families receive timely access to culturally responsive services they identify as necessary to safely care for their children and youth, and results in meaningful family involvement. 
D.  It supports relationship building and community participation. 
E.  It fosters mutual trust and respect between families, youth, agency, and stakeholders. 
F.  It values the support network and relationships of each individual. 
G.  Information sharing is open, honest, and clear. 
H.  It extends beyond the immediate family members to those identified by the family as a source of support and strength and who will serve beyond the involvement of the child welfare system to help sustain the reunification and/or ability to safely parent the children. 

*******************

[Instructions: replace lines 1860295 through 1860311.] 
7.304.52  Diligent Search [Rev. eff. 5/1/12]
A.  Definition: Diligent search is the timely good faith effort to locate and contact any noncustodial parent, all grandparent(s), and other adult relatives concerning the removal of a child or youth from the custodial home. Diligent search shall extend beyond the United States, its territories, or Puerto Rico as appropriate. 
B.  Diligent search shall:
1.  Be commenced for the noncustodial parent within three (3) working days. The county department must provide notification to the absent parent of the following:
a.  The child or youth has been removed from the home; and,
b.  The option to participate in the care, treatment, or placement of the child or youth.
2.  Be completed for all grandparent(s) and other adult relatives within thirty (30) calendar days. The county department shall provide notification of the following information:
a.  The child or youth has been removed from the home;
b.  Options to participate in the care or placement of the child or youth;
c.  Options that may be lost by failing to respond; and,
d.  The requirements to become a foster parent, and services and supports available to the child or youth placed in the family foster care home; and, 
e.  A description of the Relative Guardianship Assistance Program. 
C.  The county department shall assure that:
1.  Parents are consulted regarding their suggestions for appropriate caretakers.
2.  Children and youth are consulted as appropriate regarding their suggested relative caretakers.
3.  When the court orders a delay in contacting specific relatives for good cause including, but not limited to, domestic or other family violence, then the county department shall discontinue the diligent search involving the relative until otherwise authorized by the court.
D.  Diligent search shall occur for all children including Native American children at least every six (6) months throughout the life of the case until the child or youth has achieved permanency, except as noted in Section 7.304.52, C, 3 or when the following conditions exist: 
1.  A placement is stable with a relative or kin a minimum of six (6) consecutive months; and, 
2.  The relative or kin has committed to the legal permanence of the child or youth; and, 
3.  There is agreement among the parties that the relative or kin is the appropriate permanency option and that it is in the best interest of the child or youth that diligent search shall be discontinued. 
E.  A family engagement meeting shall occur within thirty (30) calendar days when any of the following conditions exist: 
1.  The child or youth is in a family-like permanent setting without the provider expressing formal intent to provide legal permanence at the time that any of the following conditions exist: 
a.  Has been in out-of-home placement fifteen (15) of twenty-two (22) months; or, 
b.  Has had two (2) or more unplanned moves within a twelve (12) month period; or, 
c.  Is assigned a permanency goal of Other Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (OPPLA), except those children and youth participating in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program. 
2.  The child or youth is in out-of-home placement in a non-family-like setting without an approved permanency plan and any of the conditions in 7.304.52, E, 1, a-c, exist. 
F.  The county shall document all efforts in the Family Services Plan for the child or youth. Initial and ongoing diligent search results shall be reviewed and documented during ninety (90) day supervisory reviews.