922 KAR 1:140. Foster care and
adoption permanency services.
RELATES
TO: KRS 199.011(2), 199.555, 199.801, 600.020(6), 610.125, 610.127, 620.020(1),
(11), 620.060, 620.090, 620.140(1)(d), 620.180, 625.040, 625.090, 45 C.F.R.
1355 -1357, 25 U.S.C. 1901-1911, 42 U.S.C. 622(b)(9), 670-679b, 1996, 1996b
STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: KRS 194A.050(1), 199.467, 620.180
NECESSITY,
FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 194A.050(1) requires the Secretary of the Cabinet
for Health and Family Services to promulgate, administer, and enforce those administrative
regulations necessary to implement programs mandated by federal law or to
qualify for the receipt of federal funds and necessary to cooperate with other
state and federal agencies for the proper administration of the cabinet and its
programs. Pursuant to the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, 42
U.S.C. Sections 620 to 679, KRS 199.467 requires the Secretary for Health and
Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations establishing specific
goals for the cabinet, for each fiscal year, regarding the maximum number of
children who will remain in foster care longer than twenty four (24) months,
and describing the steps to be taken to achieve the goals. KRS 620.180(2)
requires the cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations for status
review, ongoing case work, and supportive services to children in placement.
This administrative regulation establishes the maximum number of children
remaining in foster care longer than twenty four (24) months, and establishes
permanency services available to children in placement.
Section
1. Definitions. (1) "Absent parent search" means cabinet initiated
efforts to locate a biological or legal parent, or a relative.
(2)
"Cabinet" is defined by KRS 199.011(2) and 600.020(6).
(3)
"Case permanency plan" is defined by KRS 620.020(1).
(4)
"Concurrent planning" means the cabinet simultaneously plans for:
(a)
The return of a child in the custody of the cabinet to the child's parent; and
(b)
Another permanency goal for the child if return to parent is not achieved
within fifteen (15) of the last twenty two (22) months, in accordance with 42
U.S.C. 675(5)(E).
(5)
"Parent" is defined by 42 U.S.C. 675(2).
(6)
"Reasonable efforts" is defined by KRS 620.020(11).
(7)
"Relative" means an individual related to a child by blood, marriage,
or adoption to a child.
(8)
"Sufficient progress" means compliance with case permanency plan
objectives that support the safe return of the child to the child's parent.
Section
2. Children in Care. Unless the secretary of the cabinet or designee approves
an exception based on overall trends in the foster care population, the maximum
number of children who receive foster care in excess of twenty four (24) months
shall be 3,000 during a state fiscal year.
Section
3. Permanency Planning. (1) In a court permanency hearing held pursuant to KRS
610.125, the cabinet shall demonstrate that reasonable efforts to return the
child to the child's parent:
(a)
Have been unsuccessful; or
(b)
Are not required under the provisions of KRS 610.127.
(2)
A child shall be removed from the child's home if:
(a)
An emergency custody order has been obtained pursuant to KRS 620.060;
(b)
A temporary custody order has been obtained pursuant to KRS 620.090; or
(c)
A court orders the removal pursuant to KRS 620.140(1)(d).
(3)
Upon removal of a child from the child's home, placement shall be:
(a)
Selected according to the least restrictive appropriate placement available, as
required by KRS 620.090(2); and
(b)
Closest in proximity to the child’s home, in accordance with KRS 199.801.
(4)
In the provision of permanency services, the cabinet shall meet the
requirements of the:
(a)
Indian Child Welfare Act in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 1901-1911, 42 U.S.C.
671(a)(32), and 42 U.S.C. 1996; or
(b)
Multiethnic Placement Act as amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of
1996 in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 622(b)(9), 671(a)(18), and 1996b.
(5)
An absent parent search shall:
(a)
Be conducted within thirty (30) days of a child entering the custody of the
cabinet;
(b)
Be conducted to gather as much information as possible related to the person
and the person’s location which may include:
1.
Date of birth;
2.
Social Security number;
3.
Present or previous employers; and
4.
Present or most recent address; and
(c)
Include a written record of all search attempts, written correspondence, and
telephone contacts with any person to assist in locating a parent or relative.
(6)
If a relative placement is in the best interest of the child, the cabinet shall:
(a)
Use an absent parent search to locate a relative;
(b)
Conduct background checks on the relative consistent with a caretaker relative
pursuant to 922 KAR 1:490; and
(c)
Complete a home evaluation with consideration given to the relative’s:
1.
Willingness and ability to:
a.
Protect the child from abuse or neglect;
b.
Participate in the child’s case permanency plan;
c.
Access:
(i)
Transportation;
(ii)
Telephone;
(iii)
Medical services;
(iv)
First aid supplies; and
(v)
School;
d.
Provide full-time care;
e.
Provide for the child’s sleeping and eating;
f.
Maintain adequate heat and ventilation in the home;
g.
Use active smoke detectors in the home; and
h.
Assure the child’s inaccessibility to:
(i)
Medication;
(ii)
Alcoholic beverages;
(iii)
Poisonous or cleaning materials;
(iv)
Firearms or ammunition; and
(v)
Unsupervised contact with the birth parent; and
2.
Understanding of the impact that familial abuse, neglect, or substance abuse
may have on a child and the child’s extended family.
(7)
If the case conference held in compliance with KRS 620.180(2)(a)1 results in
the child being placed in the custody of the cabinet, the cabinet shall develop
and document a case permanency plan, using Form DPP-1281, Family Case Plan.
(8)
The case permanency plan shall identify the permanency goal described in
Section 4(2) of this administrative regulation.
(9)
Concurrent planning shall be considered:
(a)
During development of the case permanency plan; and
(b)
At the six (6) month case review.
Section 4. Permanency Goals. (1) A permanency goal for a child in
the custody of the cabinet shall be established according to the particular
needs and best interest of the child.
(2) A permanency goal shall include one (1) of the
following:
(a) Return to parent;
(b) Adoption;
(c) Permanent relative placement;
(d) Legal guardianship;
(e) Another planned permanent living arrangement; or
(f) Emancipation.
Section 5. Return to Parent. (1) The cabinet shall recommend
to the court that a child in the custody of the cabinet is returned to the parent
if the cabinet determines:
(a) A family has made sufficient progress toward completing
the case permanency plan; and
(b) Return to the parent is in the best interest of the
child.
(2) If the cabinet determines that a family has not made
sufficient progress towards achieving the objectives specified in the case
permanency plan, the cabinet shall seek a court order for:
(a) A change in the permanency goal; or
(b) Termination of parental rights or civil action.
(3) If the court determines that a circumstance occurs that
negates the requirement to make reasonable efforts to reunify the child and
family, as described in KRS 610.127, the cabinet shall select a permanency goal
other than return to parent.
Section 6. Adoption. (1) The permanency goal for a child in
the custody of the cabinet shall be adoption if:
(a) The parent pursues voluntary termination of parental
rights pursuant to KRS 625.040; or
(b) The cabinet pursues involuntary termination of parental
rights:
1. Pursuant to KRS 625.090; or
2. If the child has been in foster care for fifteen (15) of
the most recent twenty-two (22) months pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 675(5)(E).
(2) The cabinet shall request an exception for proceeding
with involuntary termination of parental rights pursuant to subsection (1)(b)
of this section, if:
(a) A relative placement has been secured;
(b) Termination is not in the best interest of the child,
for a compelling reason:
1. Documented in the case permanency plan; and
2. Monitored on a continual basis; or
(c) A service necessary for return to parent has not been provided
within the time period specified in the case permanency plan.
(3) Cabinet staff shall consider involuntary termination of
parental rights at each permanency hearing held pursuant to KRS 610.125(1).
Section 7. Permanent Relative Placement. The permanency goal
for a child in the custody of the cabinet shall be permanent relative placement
if:
(1) Return to the parent is not in the child’s best
interest; and
(2) The cabinet determines that a relative who does not
pursue adoption or legal guardianship is able to provide a permanent home for
the child.
Section 8. Legal Guardianship. (1) The permanency goal for a
child in the custody of the cabinet shall be legal guardianship if the cabinet
determines that:
(a) Return to the parent or adoption is not in the child’s
best interest;
(b) There is an identified adult willing to seek legal
guardianship of this child; and
(c) Legal guardianship by the adult identified in subsection
(1)(b) of this section is in the child's best interest.
(2) Legal guardianship shall be requested pursuant to KRS
620.140(1)(c).
Section 9. Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement. (1)
The permanency goal for a child in the custody of the cabinet shall be another
planned permanent living arrangement if:
(a) An unsuccessful effort has been made to place the child
for adoption or with a relative, and the child has been placed on a national
adoption register;
(b) Other permanency goal options have been exhausted and
are no longer appropriate due to the specific circumstances of the child;
(c) The cabinet has reviewed documentation that a goal of another
planned permanent living arrangement is in the best interest of the child;
(d) The court has determined that another planned permanent
living arrangement is in the best interest of the child to be placed; and
(e) The child has formed psychological ties with those with
whom the child lives, and adoption and guardianship have been discussed with
the care provider and are not viable alternatives.
(2) Approval shall be obtained from the commissioner or designee
prior to the establishment of another planned permanent living arrangement as a
permanency goal for a child:
(a) Under the age of sixteen (16); or
(b) Placed with a private child caring agency.
Section 10.
Emancipation. (1) The permanency goal for a child in the custody of the cabinet
shall be emancipation when:
(a)
The youth is age sixteen (16) or older; and
(b)
Other permanency options have been considered and are not appropriate due to
the specific circumstances of the child.
(2)
If emancipation is established as a permanency goal, the youth shall be
referred to an independent living program administered by the cabinet.
Section
11. Permanency Services. (1) The cabinet shall provide services for a child in
the custody of the cabinet so that permanency is achieved.
(2)
Permanency services may include:
(a)
Ongoing case work and monitoring of the family to:
1.
Maintain the child safely in the child's home; and
2.
Ensure safe return of the child if the goal is return to the parent;
(b)
Adoption assistance pursuant to 922 KAR 1:050 or 922 KAR 1:060;
(c)
Postfinalization adoption assistance if adoption assistance has not been
previously approved pursuant to KRS 199.555 and 199.557;
(d)
Postadoption placement stabilization services as described in 922 KAR 1:530; or
(e)
Referral to other cabinet and community resources necessary for the achievement
or maintenance of the child’s permanency goal. Other cabinet resources for a
prospective or existing permanent relative placement may include:
1.
The Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) for a child if an
application is made in accordance with 921 KAR 2:006 and 921 KAR 2:016;
2.
Health benefits for a child if an application is made in accordance with 907
KAR 1:610, 907 KAR 4:020, or 907 KAR 4:030;
3.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a household if an
application is made in accordance with 921 KAR 3:030; or
4.
Relative placement support benefit in accordance with 922 KAR 1:400, to the
extent funds are available.
Section
12. Incorporation by Reference. (1) "DPP-1281, Family Case Plan",
9/08, is incorporated by reference.
(2)
This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable
copyright law, at the Department for Community Based Services, 275 East Main
Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40621, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (9 Ky.R. 667; eff. 12-1-82; Am.
10 Ky.R. 690; eff. 12-2-83; 16 Ky.R. 1067; eff. 1-12-90; 20 Ky.R. 2406; eff.
3-23-94; Recodified from 905 KAR 1:140, 10-30-98; 26 Ky.R. 2423; 27 Ky.R. 814;
1274; eff. 11-17-2000; 35 Ky.R. 1365; 1823; eff. 2-6-09; 39 Ky.R. 2225; 40 Ky.R.
554; eff. 9-18-2013.)
