8-469.02. Foster youth permanency pilot project team; duties; confidentiality

A. The department shall establish a foster youth permanency pilot project team. The foster youth permanency pilot project team shall:

1. Develop a methodology to identify children who are believed to be at risk of exiting the department's custody without a permanency placement.

2. Implement solutions to remove barriers to permanency for children who are likely to be in the custody of the department when the child turns eighteen years of age or to begin participating in the extended foster care program pursuant to section 8-521.02.

B. The foster youth permanency pilot project team consists of the following members:

1. Members who have expertise or experience in social work.

2. Members who are attorneys and who have expertise in representing children or experience in child welfare law.

3. Members who have served as guardians ad litem.

4. Members who have served as court appointed special advocates.

5. Members who are familiar with the child's case and who have an understanding of the child's permanency plan preferences.

6. Members of national organizations with experience in permanency planning policy and best practices.

C. The foster youth permanency pilot project team shall do all of the following:

1. Thoroughly review the child's case file.

2. Convene foster youth permanency pilot project team meetings that include the child, the child's caregivers, the child's attorney and members of the foster youth permanency pilot project team who are appointed pursuant to subsection B of this section and who agree to participate in the child's case, as applicable and necessary. At the initial meeting, the foster youth permanency pilot project team shall identify barriers to permanency for each child selected and determine the assistance, resources and tools needed for the child to achieve permanency.

3. Review and discuss the permanency plan for the child.

4. Convene ongoing meetings of the foster youth permanency pilot project team to evaluate the child's progress towards permanency and to amend the child's permanency action plan as necessary.

5. Identify specific options to place a child with individuals or families who are willing and able to provide permanency to a child selected by the foster youth permanency pilot project team.

D. The foster youth permanency pilot project team shall have access to all department documents and personnel that are necessary to perform the duties of the foster youth permanency pilot project team.

E. The foster youth permanency pilot project team may enter into contracts with any of the following:

1. A child or adolescent psychiatrist who has expertise in effective therapies and assessing proper use of psychotropic medications.

2. An attorney who has expertise in social security benefits, education, immigration, disability, adoption and department and child welfare policies.

3. A private investigator who can successfully locate relatives or kin of children who were not previously identified as placement options.

F. The foster youth permanency pilot project team shall take reasonable steps to prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy and to protect the privacy and dignity of children who are the subject of a permanency action plan.