Section R512-301-3 - Child and Family Services Roles and Responsibilities to a Parent or Guardian of a Child Receiving Out-of-Home Services when Reunification is the Primary Permanency Goal(1) Child and Family Services is responsible to make reasonable efforts to reunify a child with a parent or guardian when a court has determined that reunification is appropriate, in accordance with Section 62A-4a-203, or when a child has been placed with Child and Family Services through a voluntary placement.(2) Child and Family Services shall actively seek to involve both the custodial and non-custodial parents or guardians in the child and family team process, unless their whereabouts are unknown, including participation in establishing the child and family team, completing an assessment, developing the child and family plan, and selecting the child's primary and concurrent permanency goals, as described in Rule R512-300. Child and Family Services shall also involve the child's foster parents, stepparent when appropriate, and the guardian ad litem, if one has been appointed by the court.(3) The child and family plan shall address the strengths and needs of both the child and the family. In accordance with Section 62A-4a-205, the plan shall identify what the parents must do for the child to be returned home, specifically how the requirements may be accomplished and how the requirements shall be measured. The plan shall also include the specific services needed to reduce the problems that necessitated placing the child in out-of-home care. Child and Family Services shall utilize and complete an assessment, with the input of the child and family team, to identify the provisions that will be included in the plan. The plan shall be crafted by the child and family team and designed to maintain and enhance parental functioning, improve safety, well-being, and permanency for the child, and preserve familial connections. (4) In accordance with Section 62A-4a-205, additional weight and attention shall be given to the input of the child's parents and the foster parents in the plan development.(5) Child and Family Services shall make a substantial effort to develop a child and family plan with which the child's parents agree. If a parent does not agree with the services outlined on the child and family plan, Child and Family Services shall make attempts to resolve the disagreement, and, if unsuccessful, shall inform the court of the disagreement.(6) The completed child and family plan shall be uploaded into eSign and made available to the parent or guardian, foster parent, guardian ad litem, and the parent or guardian's legal counsel as soon as reasonably possible following finalization.(7) The caseworker shall make diligent attempts to have regular face-to-face contact with the parent or guardian to facilitate progress towards completion of the provisions outlined in the child and family plan. At a minimum, the caseworker shall visit the parent or guardian at least once per month.(8) Child and Family Services shall make diligent efforts to engage a parent or guardian in continuing contacts with the child, whether through visitation, phone, or written correspondence, when it is not prohibited by court order. Visitation requirements specified in Rule R512-300 apply.(9) Child and Family Services shall also make reasonable and diligent efforts to engage and involve a parent or guardian in their child's activities and appointments, such as attending school meetings, recreational activities, and health care visits, when it is determined to be safe for the child and not prohibited by court order.(10) Child and Family Services must include the parent or guardian as fully as possible when making health care decisions for the child, as long as the child's health and well-being are not compromised by the decision.(11) The parent or guardian has a right to reasonable notice and may participate in court and administrative reviews for the child in accordance with The Public Health and Welfare Act of 2014, 42 U.S.C 675, and Section 80-3-104.Utah Admin. Code R512-301-3
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-3, effective 1/7/2016Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-07, effective 3/11/2022