New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter 10 - CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES › Part 9 - YOUTH SERVICES › Section 8.10.9.7 - DEFINITIONS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A.
"Case plan"
means a plan created jointly with clients for a child, youth, parent,
				guardian, custodian or respondent that identifies the appropriate services
				based on the needs identified to achieve the child's or youth's permanency plan
				and to promote the safety and well-being of each child or youth.
B.
"Chafee Act"
refers to the
				John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, which allows states to
				provide services and funds to youth likely to age out of foster care, youth
				adopted after the age of 16 from the foster care system, and youth who have
				aged out of foster care at the age of 18.
C.
"Discharge hearing"
is a
				hearing required by the New Mexico Children's Code, Section 32A-4-25.3 NMSA
				1978, which takes place at the last judicial review or permanency hearing held
				prior to the youth's 18th birthday. At the discharge hearing the court reviews
				the youth's transition plan and determines whether or not PSD has made
				reasonable efforts to meet the requirements outlined in the New Mexico
				Children's Code, Section 32A-4-25.3(B) NMSA 1978. (See herein at
				8.10.9.17
				NMAC)
D.
"Education and
				training voucher (ETV) program"
is a Chafee Act program that provides
				financial assistance to eligible youth who are enrolled in an accredited
				post-secondary educational setting.
E.
"FACTS"
is the family
				automated client tracking system, PSD's information management
				system.
F.
"Fictive kin"
is a person not related by birth or marriage who has an emotionally
				significant relationship with the child.
G.
"Foster care provider"
refers
				to a person or entity licensed by CYFD, licensed by another state's child
				welfare agency, or a licensed child placement agency to provide foster care
				services including respite, non-relative, relative, or treatment foster
				care.
H.
"Leaders uniting
				voices youth advocates of New Mexico" or "LUVYANM"
is a non-governmental
				youth advocacy and advisory board composed of youth from around the state that
				represent current and former foster care youth. The board evaluates policies
				and practices of the child welfare system and advocates for system
				improvements. LUVYANM educates other youth, resource families, child welfare
				workers and the general public on issues related to youth in foster
				care.
I.
"Life skills"
are the skills that a youth must develop to safely transition into
				adulthood, as identified in the independent living assessment discussed herein
				at
				8.10.9.10
				NMAC.
J.
"National youth
				transition database (NYTD)"
is a database, required by the Chafee Act.
				It tracks and reports on both services provided to and outcomes for older
				youth.
K.
"Permanency planning
				worker (PPW)"
has primary responsibility for youth in custody and works
				in collaboration with the youth transition specialist (YTS) (herein defined at
				Subsection T of 8.10.9.7 NMAC) to promote the safety, permanency and well-being
				for the youth, promote positive youth development, and assist the youth in
				successfully transitioning into adult living.
L.
"Planned permanent living arrangement
				(PPLA)"
is a permanency plan established by the court for a youth in
				PSD custody who is age 16 or older once reunification, adoption, permanency
				guardianship and placement with a ft and willing relative have been ruled
				out.
M.
"Positive youth
development"
is a set of practices in working with youth to
				provide the necessary supports as they build their capacities and strengths to
				meet their personal and social needs. Youth are viewed as partners in working
				toward a successful transition to adulthood.
N.
"PSD"
refers to the protective
				services division of the children, youth and families department, and is the
				state's designated child welfare agency.
O.
"PSD custody"
means custody of
				children as a result of an action filed under the New Mexico Children's Code,
				Sections 32A-4-1 or 32A-3B-1 NMSA 1978.
P.
"Sex or human trafficking"
consists of a child or youth who may have experienced being recruited,
				solicited, enticed, harbored, exploited or transported by another person whose
				intent is to exploit or use force, fraud, manipulation or coercion to subject
				the child or youth into labor, services or sexual activity.
Q.
"Start-up funds"
are funds
				available through the Chafee Act to assist eligible youth in purchasing the
				household items and services needed to establish a home or to support the
				youth's transition into adulthood.
R.
"Transition plan"
refers to
				the plan developed with the youth prior to the youth's 17th birthday to
				identify a youth's needs, strengths and goals in the areas of safety, housing,
				education, employment or income, physical and mental health, local
				opportunities for mentors and continuing support services.
S.
"Youth"
for the purposes of
				8.10.9 NMAC, means youth age 14 and older in the legal custody of PSD through
				and abuse and neglect petition or family in need of services petition filed
				under the New Mexico Children's Code, Sections 32A-4-1 or 32A-3B-1 NMSA
				1978.
T.
"Youth
				services"
means any independent living or transition service arranged or
				provided by a YTS (in collaboration with permanency planning services) to a
				youth in custody, a youth who has aged out of foster care at age 18, or a youth
				who was adopted after the age of 16 in order to promote the safety of the
				youth, promote positive youth development, and assist the youth in successfully
				transitioning into adult living.
U.
"Youth transition specialist (YTS)"
is a PSD worker who works in
				conjunction with the PPW with regard to all youth in custody age 14 or older,
				including youth age 18 who remain under the jurisdiction of the court, and
				youth who were adopted at age 16 and older. The YTS has primary responsibility
				for youth who have aged out of foster care at age 18 and are working with PSD
				on a voluntary basis.