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Florida Administrative Code (Last Updated: October 28, 2024) |
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65. Department of Children and Families |
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65C. Family Safety and Preservation Program |
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65C-30. General Child Welfare Provisions |
1(1) Permanency Goals. Permanency goals, as set forth in Section 1139.621(2), F.S., 13shall be selected based on the best interest of the individual child. The primary permanency option is to maintain a child with his or her parents or legal custodian followed by reunification of the child with his or her parents or legal custodian whenever possible.
58(2) Reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal shall be made during the first 12 months following the date the child was removed from his or her home.
86(3) The following shall be assessed in determining the best permanency goal for a child in out-of-home care:
104(a) Whether interventions provided will alleviate the causes of removal;
114(b) Current family relationships and other significant relationships that provide the child stability and a sense of connection and provide possible permanent living options. This includes connections with family members from the child’s home of removal;
150(c) Physical, Medical, Emotional, Psychological, Developmental and Educational Needs. The 160child welfare professional 163shall give consideration to matching the child with caregivers able to provide for the child’s needs on a long-term basis. The 184child welfare professional 187shall ensure that the caregivers are provided the education, training and support necessary to enable them to meet the child’s needs;
208(d) Placement options that provide the most family-like and least restrictive settings. The 221child welfare professional 224shall explore the current caregiver’s ability and willingness to provide a permanent home for the child;
240(e) Child’s Preferences. The 244child welfare professional 247shall provide 249youth of sufficient age, maturity, and understanding with 257information and education regarding permanency goal options to assist the child in making an informed decision as to his or her preference in achieving permanency.
282(4) Permanency Goal Requirements. The particular situation of each child and family shall be considered by the 299child welfare professional 302in determining the best permanency goal for a particular child. Youth of sufficient age, maturity, and understanding shall be informed of the availability of long-term caregivers or opportunities for independence. Reunification shall be ruled out as an option prior to changing the permanency goal to any other option. The case documentation shall provide justification that the permanency option recommended to the court is the most appropriate one for the child.
372Rulemaking 373Authority 37439.012, 37539.0121(12), 376(13) FS. Law Implemented 38039.621 FS. 382History–New 5-4-06, 2-25-16.
