Case Planning for Families Involved With Child Welfare Agencies - New Mexico

When Case Plans Are Required

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 32A-3B-15

Prior to the dispositional hearing, a written family services plan must be prepared for submission to the court.

Who May Participate in the Case Planning Process

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 32A-3B-15

The department shall prepare the family services plan. A copy of the plan shall be provided by the department to all parties at least 5 days before the dispositional hearing.

When the child is an Indian child, contact shall be made with the child's Indian Tribe for the purpose of consultation and exchange of information, and the plan shall indicate the person contacted in the child's Indian Tribe and the results of that contact.

Contents of a Case Plan

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 32A-3B-15

The plan for family services shall contain the following information:

• A statement of the problem
• The needs of the child and the family
• A description of the specific progress needed to be made by both the parent and the child, the reasons why the plan is likely to be useful, the availability of any proposed services, and the department's overall plan for ensuring that the services will be delivered
• If removal from the home or continued residence outside of the home is recommended for the child:
  • A statement of the likely harm the child will suffer as a result of removal from the home, including emotional harm resulting from separation from the child's parents
  • A description of any previous efforts to work with the parent and the child in the home and a description of any in-home treatment programs that have been considered and rejected
  • A description of the steps that will be taken to minimize any harm to the child that may result if separation from the child's parent occurs or continues
  • For a child age 16 or older, a description of the specific skills the child requires for successful transition into independent living as an adult, what programs are necessary to develop the skills, the reasons why the programs are likely to be useful, the availability of any proposed programs, and the department's overall plan for ensuring that the child will be adequately prepared for adulthood