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Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017) |
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Title 22. Social Services |
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Agency 40. Department of Social Services |
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Chapter 201. Permanency Services - Prevention, Foster Care, Adoption,And Independent Living |
Section 70. Foster care goals
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A. Foster care goals are established to assure permanency planning for the child. Priority shall be given to the goals listed in subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 of this subsection, which are recognized in federal legislation as providing children with permanency. The selection of goals other than those in subdivisions 1, 2, and 3 of this subsection must include documentation as to why each of these first three goals were not selected. Foster care goals are:
1. Return custody to parent or prior custodian.
2. Transfer of custody of the child to a relative other than his prior family.
3. Adoption.
4. Permanent foster care.
5. Independent living.
6. Another planned permanent living arrangement.
B. When the permanency goal is changed to adoption, the local department shall file petitions with the court 30 days prior to the hearing to:
1. Approve the foster care service plan seeking to change the permanency goal to adoption; and
2. Terminate parental rights.
Upon termination of parental rights, the local department shall provide an array of adoption services to support obtaining a finalized adoption.
C. The goal of permanent foster care shall only be considered for children age 14 and older in accordance with guidance in the section on choosing a goal in the Foster Care Manual.
D. When the goal for the youth is to transition to independent living, the local department shall provide services pursuant to guidance in the section on choosing a goal in the Foster Care Manual .
E. The goal of another planned permanent living arrangement may be chosen when the court has found that none of the alternative permanency goals are appropriate and the court has found the child to:
1. Have a severe and chronic emotional, physical, or neurological disabling condition; and
2. Require long-term residential care for the condition.
F. These permanency goals shall be considered and addressed from the beginning of placement and continuously evaluated. Although one goal may appear to be the primary goal, other goals shall be continuously explored and planned for as appropriate.
Historical Notes
Derived from Volume 29, Issue 02, eff. November 1, 2012.