Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 413 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS › Division 70 - SUBSTITUTE CARE › Section 413-070-0860 - Visit and Contact Plans

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) The
			 visit and contact plan.
(a) The caseworker
			 must create a visit and contact plan that ensures child or young adult
			 safety.
(b) The visit and contact
			 plan must be created when the child or young adult first enters substitute care
			 or at the time of the first court hearing required by ORS
			 419B.183,
			 whichever is first.
(c) The visit
			 and contact plan may be written by Department staff but must be approved by the
			 caseworker or their supervisor.
(d)
			 The court may make an order regarding visitation between the child or young
			 adult's parents, siblings, or grandparents.
(e) If the first visit with the parent or
			 guardian does not occur within the first week of a child or young adult's
			 placement in substitute care, the caseworker must document the reason the visit
			 did not occur in case notes in the Department's electronic information
			 system.
(f) The caseworker must
			 provide a copy of the visit and contact plan to the parents or guardians, the
			 child or young adult as age and developmentally appropriate, and to other
			 people participating in the visit and contact plan.
(g) In developing the visit and contact plan,
			 the caseworker must involve:
(A) The parents
			 or guardians; and
(B) The child or
			 young adult, if appropriate, based on the child or young adult's age and
			 developmental capabilities.
(h) The caseworker may involve the following
			 entities to participate in the development of the visit and contact plan and in
			 facilitating visitation:
(A) Grandparents and
			 other relatives;
(B) Safety service
			 or treatment providers;
(C) The
			 substitute caregiver; and
(D)
			 Tribal representative (if applicable).
(i) Family members, safety service providers
			 and the substitute caregiver should be encouraged to facilitate visitation and
			 support the safety plan.
(j) A copy
			 of the written plan may be given to each participant. The visits must occur in
			 the least restrictive manner in which the child or young adult's safety can be
			 managed and must support the best interests of the child or young adult and any
			 orders of the court regarding visitation with the child or young adult's
			 parents, siblings, or grandparents.
(k) The visit and contact plan must be
			 reviewed every 90 days and may be reviewed and revised at any time. When a
			 visit and contact plan is revised, the caseworker completes a revised visit and
			 contact plan and provides a copy of the revised plan to each
			 participant.
(L) A plan that
			 prohibits a parent or guardian's visit or contact must include the reason for
			 each prohibition and state, if applicable, the conditions under which the
			 Department would begin or resume contact.
(m) The caseworker must document the
			 implementation of the visit and contact plan in the case plan.
(n) The visit and contact plan must include
			 the following:
(A) The purpose and conditions
			 of visits and contacts including type (in-person, via phone, etc.), time of
			 day, frequency, length, and location;
(B) Describe the reason for and level of
			 supervision when supervision is required;
(C) Identify the individual who will
			 supervise the visit or assist a parent or guardian in meeting the needs of the
			 child or young adult during visitation;
(D) Support the safety plan; and
(E) Use language that parents or guardians
			 and the child or young adult can understand and, whenever possible, be written
			 in the caregiver's preferred language.
(o) In developing a visit and contact plan,
			 the caseworker must:
(A) Arrange visits so
			 that the type, time of day, frequency, length, and location of visits maximize
			 contact between the parents or guardians and siblings and the child or young
			 adult, support the safety plan and support the child or young adult's
			 permanency plan as described in OAR 413-070-0855(2) and (3);
(B) Meet the unique needs of the child or
			 young adult, especially considering the child or young adult's chronological or
			 developmental age and sense of time as they affect the child or young adult's
			 attachment to a parent or guardian and other family members;
(C) Arrange visits that do not disrupt the
			 school schedule of the child or young adult whenever possible;
(D) Arrange additional contact such as
			 telephone calls, email, video calls, social media, letters, and other
			 activities the family, siblings, and child or young adult may do together that
			 support the ongoing safety plan, such as attendance by parents or guardians at
			 medical appointments, school events, and religious or spiritual
			 activities;
(E) Address barriers to
			 visitation for the parent, guardian, siblings, child or young adult to
			 participate in visits, including transportation, adaptations for those
			 traveling long distances, health care requirements, and arranging child care
			 for a child or young adult's sibling;
(F) Work within each parent's or guardian's
			 employment and treatment obligations as much as possible;
(G) Ensure the visit and contact plan
			 considers the safety needs of any non-offending parent or guardian in cases
			 involving domestic violence including, but not limited to, different visiting
			 schedules or arranging safe drop-off and pick-up locations;
(H) Explain to a parent or guardian the
			 results of not attending visits;
(I) Explain the known or anticipated reasons
			 for ending a visit (such as health or safety);
(J) Learn about and understand culturally
			 relevant visitation needs, language appropriate visitation services, and take
			 the actions necessary to ensure these needs are met; and
(K) Discuss alternatives when visits are
			 canceled.