Fla. Stat. § 984.12 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 984 / Section 984.12
984.12 Case staffing; services and treatment related to a family in need of services.
Status: in_force

(1) The appropriate representative of the department shall request a meeting of the family and child with a case staffing committee to review the case of any family or child who the department determines is in need of services if: (a) The family or child is not in agreement with the services or treatment offered; (b) The family or child will not participate in the services or treatment selected; or (c) The representative of the department needs assistance in developing an appropriate plan for services. The time and place selected for the meeting shall be convenient for the child and family.

(2) The composition of the case staffing committee shall be based on the needs of the family and child. It shall include a representative from the child’s school district and a representative of the department, and may include the department’s authorized agent and a supervisor of the department’s contracted provider; a representative from the area of health, mental health, substance abuse, or social services; a representative of the state attorney; a representative of law enforcement; and any person recommended by the child, family, or department. The child and the child’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian must be invited to attend the committee meeting.

(3) The case staffing committee shall: (a) Identify the family’s concerns and contributing factors. (b) Request the family and child to identify their needs and concerns. (c) Seek input from the school district and any other persons in attendance with knowledge of the family or child’s situation and concerns. (d) Consider the voluntary family services or other community services that have been offered and the results of those services. (e) Identify whether truancy is a concern and evaluate compliance with the remedial strategies provided pursuant to s. 1003.26. (f) Reach a timely decision to provide the child or family with services and recommend any appropriate treatment through the development of a plan for services.

(4) The plan for services shall contain the following: (a) Statement of the concerns. (b) Needs of the child. (c) Needs of the parents, legal guardian, or custodian. (d) Measurable objectives that address the identified problems and needs. (e) Services and treatment to be provided, to include: 1. Type of services or treatment. 2. Frequency of services or treatment. 3. Location. 4. Accountable service providers or staff. (f) Timeframes for achieving objectives.

(5) Upon receipt of the plan, the child and family shall acknowledge their position by accepting or rejecting the services and provisions in writing. If the plan is accepted, it shall be implemented as soon as is practicable.

(6) The assigned case manager shall have responsibility for implementing the plan. The department’s authorized agent shall periodically review the progress towards achieving the objectives of the plan in order to: (a) Advise the case staffing committee of the need to make adjustments to the plan; (b) Recommend a child in need of services petition be filed by the department; or (c) Terminate the case as indicated by successful or substantial achievement of the objectives of the plan.

(7) The parent, legal guardian, or custodian may convene a meeting of the case staffing committee. A case staffing committee meeting requested by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian must be convened within 7 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the date the department’s representative receives the request in writing.

(8) Any other member of the committee may convene a meeting if voluntary family services have been offered and the services have been rejected by the child or family, or the child has not made measurable progress toward achieving the service plan goals, and the member finds that doing so is in the best interest of the family or child.

(9) A case staffing committee meeting must be convened within 30 days after the date the case is referred by the court pursuant to s. 984.151.

(10) Within 7 days after meeting, the case staffing committee shall provide the parent, legal guardian, or custodian with a written report that details the reasons for the committee’s decision to recommend, or decline to recommend, that the department file a petition alleging that the child is a child in need of services.

(11) The case staffing committee may reconvene from time to time as may be necessary to make adjustments to the plan.

History: s. 8, ch. 87-133; s. 9, ch. 91-45; s. 19, ch. 95-267; s. 9, ch. 95-280; s. 4, ch. 96-369; s. 24, ch. 96-398; s. 98, ch. 97-238; s. 7, ch. 97-281; s. 14, ch. 2025-153.