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> Legal and Court Issues in Permanency
> State Laws Related to Permanency
State Laws Related to Permanency
State laws build on Federal laws and provide further guidance for the work of State child welfare agencies in achieving permanency for children in out-of-home care.
Case Planning for Families Involved With Child Welfare Agencies
A case plan is a written document that may be prepared when a child becomes involved with a State child welfare agency. This fact sheet provides information on when case plans are required, who may participate in the process, and describes the general contents of a case plan. Case plans typically include goals and objectives that the parents must meet in order to achieve a safe home for the child and timeframes for achieving those goals.
Court Hearings for the Permanent Placement of Children
Court hearings are used to review the status and determine the permanent placement of children who have been placed in out-of-home care, including foster care. The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 (P.L. 105-89) amended title IV-E of the Social Security Act in an effort to provide added safety and permanency for children in foster placement. ASFA placed an emphasis on expediting and improving planning and decision-making for the permanent placement of children in the child welfare system.
Determining the Best Interests of the Child
Whenever a court must make a determination as to the custody and/or placement of a child, or must decide on a petition for termination of parental rights, the court must weigh whether that decision will be in the best interests of the child. All States and Territories require that the child's best interests be considered whevever such decisions regarding a child's placement are made. This resource provides the factors that may be considered by the court when making a best interests detemination.
State Child Welfare Legislation 2006 (PDF - 225 KB)
National Conference of State Legislatures (2007)
Documents significant State legislation enacted during calendar year 2006 related to child welfare, including issues such as expedited permanency planning and family involvement in case planning.
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