Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 110 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › Title 110 CMR 6.00 - Service Plans And Case Reviews › Section 6.02 - Foster Care Review (FCR)

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1)
Requirement
. The Department shall conduct a FCR within
			 six months after a child or young adult is placed out of the home and every six
			 months thereafter as long as the child or young adult remains out of the
			 home.
(2)
Content
. A FCR shall include consideration of the
			 following:
(a) a review of the family
			 assessment and action plan and any updates since the last foster care review,
			 including the reason for the Department's continued involvement with the
			 family; and
(b) a review of the
			 tasks, services and supports within the action plan since the last foster care
			 review, including:
1. the Department's actions
			 and efforts to address the reason for the Department's involvement and to
			 achieve safety, permanency and well-being for the child/young adult, including
			 contact with parent(s) and children and placement resource;
2. each parent's actions and efforts toward
			 participation in the tasks, services and supports identified in the action
			 plan, including participation in scheduled visits, intended to reduce or
			 alleviate the danger to, or need for placement of, the child(ren) or young
			 adult and whether desired outcomes were achieved;
3. where appropriate, the child/young adult's
			 actions and efforts toward participation in the tasks, services and supports
			 identified in the action plan and the extent to which the outcomes of safety,
			 permanency and well-being were achieved;
4. progress made toward resolving the issues
			 identified in the family assessment and action plan, updates to the family
			 assessment and action plan or the previous FCR;
5. the placement provider's actions and
			 efforts toward the fulfillment of the expectations necessary to meet the needs
			 of the child, including providing regular opportunities to engage in age or
			 developmentally appropriate activities; and
6. the Department's actions and efforts to
			 ensure the child's placement is following the reasonable and prudent parent
			 standard;
(c) a review of
			 the safety of the child or young adult, including children living at home, and
			 the necessity and appropriateness of the child or young adult's continued
			 placement;
(d) a review of the
			 extent of progress made toward alleviating or mitigating the causes
			 necessitating the child/young adult's placement and achieving desired
			 outcomes;
(e) a review of the
			 Department's permanency plan for the child or young adult and the projected
			 date by which the child or young adult will achieve permanency either through:
1. stabilization with their parents or
			 guardian;
2. reunification and
			 safely maintaining with their parents or guardian;
3. adoption;
4. guardianship by a person other than the
			 Department or its agent;
5.
			 permanently living with Kin; or
6.
			 another planned permanent living arrangement for a child 16 years of age or
			 older; and
(f) a review
			 of the proposed action planning for the next six months, including:
1. the steps necessary to achieve permanency
			 for the child or young adult; and
2. the visitation schedule for the parents,
			 siblings and grandparents if applicable and the means by which the schedule
			 will be implemented.
(g)
			 a review of the child or young adult's medical and dental checkups, consistent
			 with the well-child schedule;
(h) a
			 review of the child or young adult's educational needs and the stability of the
			 educational setting;
(i) a review
			 of the child or young adult's regular opportunities to engage in age or
			 developmentally appropriate activities;
(j) a review of the services and supports for
			 the child or young adult 14 years of age or older that will assist them in
			 transitioning from foster care to a successful adulthood; and
(k) for any child who have reached the age of
			 17 years and six months, a review of a child's request to receive young adult
			 services through the Department beyond 18 years of age.