Sec. 3.

The state court administrative office shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine the number of children who are in foster care in this state.

(b) Establish uniform policies and procedures for foster care review pursuant to this act, including criteria for the selection of foster care cases to be reviewed.

(c) In accordance with section 4, determine the appropriate number of local boards necessary to meet the needs of children in foster care, and establish the jurisdiction of each local board.

(d) Establish criteria and procedures for membership of a local board.

(e) Solicit and receive applications for local board membership and make membership decisions.

(f) Provide written notification to a local board of specific cases of children in foster care appropriate for review, and schedule those cases for review within the time intervals established under section 7.

(g) Inform the child care organization, department of social services, or probate court that provided notification pursuant to section 6(a) of the local board to which the child is assigned.

(h) Make a reasonable effort to provide written notification to each interested party of the date, time, and procedures for a review by a local board of a child in foster care.

(i) Establish a system to monitor the status of each child who is in foster care and who has been assigned to a local board.

(j) Analyze information gathered by local boards throughout this state.

(k) Employ and provide state board program staff and provide local board volunteers.

(l) Provide periodic training sessions for the members of each local board. The training sessions shall include instruction on the need to maintain confidentiality as required under section 8.

(m) Establish an advisory committee consisting of representatives from child care organizations, local boards, and others as the state court administrator considers necessary to review the foster care system and to make recommendations concerning the foster care system to the appropriate groups and agencies. Not less than a majority of the advisory committee shall consist of representatives of the local boards.

(n) Issue an annual report pursuant to section 9.

(o) Perform those duties necessary to implement and review the state board program.

History: 1984, Act 422, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 1984 ;-- Am. 1986, Act 159, Imd. Eff. July 7, 1986 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 74, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1989