Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 413 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS › Division 40 - CASE MANAGEMENT - SERVICE PLANS › Section 413-040-0008 - Requirements for a Family Engagement Meeting

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) When the
child
has been
			 placed in
substitute care
or the Department is working a
			 cooperative in-home plan for more than 30 days, the Department must schedule an
			 FEM. The meeting is scheduled between the 30th and 60th day of the out-of-home
			 care
placement
or from the time of safety threat
			 identification resulting in a cooperative in-home case.
(2) Prior to the FEM, the Department must
			 conduct and document reasonable inquiries to promptly locate and invite the
			 parents and an Indian child's tribe. The Department may conduct and document
			 reasonable inquiries to promptly locate and invite grandparents and any
			 other
family member
who has had significant, direct contact
			 with the
child
in the year prior to the
substitute
			 care
placement
. Other participants in the meeting
			 must include the
child
,if the
child
is 12
			 years of age or older, and for a child 14 years of age and older, at their
			 option, up to two members of the case planning team who are chosen by the
child
. Other participants in the meeting may include a child
			 younger than 12 when appropriate, other professionals, foster parents,
			 neighbors, and family and friends of the family.
(3) Family members or an Indian child's tribe
			 who are located after reasonable inquiries must be notified by the Department
			 of the
FEM
in a timely manner to allow them the opportunity to
			 be prepared for and attend the meeting.
(4) Other participants may be jointly
			 identified by the parents, guardians,
Indian custodian
of the
child
, and the Department, and the Department must notify
			 identified participants in a timely manner to allow them the opportunity to
			 prepare for and attend the meeting.
(5) To assist the family in developing the
			 family's plan for the
child
, the Department must provide
			 participants with information regarding the federal timeline for determining
			 permanency for the
child
and the Oregon Administrative Rules
			 that govern the sufficiency of a safety plan,
conditions for
			 return
, and
reunification
.
(6) The located family members may attend the
FEM
unless the other participants determine that a
family member
may threaten or place other participants at
			 risk. The Department may exclude family members it determines are violent,
			 unpredictable, or abusive or an alleged perpetrator of sexual abuse, domestic
			 violence, or severe physical assault.
(7) Family members who are not invited or
			 allowed to participate may submit written information and recommendations to
			 the caseworker prior to the scheduled meeting concerning the subjects of the
FEM
, including feedback regarding the
placement
of the
child
,
permanency
			 plan
,
concurrent permanent plan
, and
			 services.
(8) During the
FEM
, family members may develop a
family plan
for the
child
.
(9)
			 Any
family member
or tribal representative participating in an
			 FEM must sign a written acknowledgment of the content of the
family
			 plan
developed at the meeting and of his or her attendance at the
			 meeting.
(10) The Department must
			 send a copy of the
family plan
developed at the FEM within 21
			 days after the date of the meeting to family participants, including those who
			 participated by submitting written information and recommendations.
(11) The Department must incorporate the
family plan
developed at the FEM into the Department
case plan
to the extent that the
family plan
protects the
child
, builds on family strengths, and focuses on
			 achieving permanency for the
child
within a reasonable time.
			 If the family's plan developed at the meeting cannot be incorporated into the
			 Department's
case plan
, the reasons shall be documented in the
			 Department's
case plan
.
(12) The Department is responsible for
			 confirming that any
family plan
developed at an FEM is
			 sufficient to ensure the safety or permanency of the
child
before implementing a
family plan
developed at an FEM.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
				  418.005  & ORS
				  409.050
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
				  418.005  & ORS
				  409.010