§ 5316. Disposition case plan

(a) Following a finding by the court that a child is in need of care or supervision, the Department shall file a disposition case plan ordered pursuant to subsection 5315(g) of this title not later than seven business days before the scheduled disposition hearing.

(b) A disposition case plan shall include, as appropriate:

(1) The long-term goal for a child found to be in need of care and supervision is a safe and permanent home. A disposition case plan shall include a permanency goal and an estimated date for achieving the permanency goal. The plan shall specify whether permanency will be achieved through reunification with a custodial parent, guardian, or custodian; adoption; permanent guardianship; or other permanent placement. In addition to a primary permanency goal, the plan may identify a concurrent permanency goal.

(2) An assessment of the child's medical, psychological, social, educational, and vocational needs.

(3) A description of the child's home, school, community, and current living situation.

(4) An assessment of the family's strengths and risk factors, including a consideration of the needs of children and parents with disabilities, provided that the child's needs are given primary consideration.

(5) A statement of family changes needed to correct the problems necessitating State intervention, with timetables for accomplishing the changes.

(6) A recommendation with respect to legal custody for the child and a recommendation for parent-child contact and sibling contact, if appropriate.

(7) A plan of services that shall describe the responsibilities of the child, the parents, guardian, or custodian, the Department, other family members, and treatment providers, including a description of the services required to achieve the permanency goal. The plan shall also address the minimum frequency of contact between the social worker assigned to the case and the family.

(8) A request for child support.

(9) Notice to the parents that failure to accomplish substantially the objectives stated in the plan within the time frames established may result in termination of parental rights. (Added 2007, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; amended 2015, No. 23, § 62; 2015, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 30.)