Concurrent Planning for Timely Permanency for Children - Alaska

Defining Concurrent Planning

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.

State Approaches to Concurrent Planning

Citation: Alaska Stat. § 47.10.086(e), (f); Child Prot. Serv. Man., § 3.1.4

The Department of Health and Social Services may develop and implement an alternative permanency plan for the child while the department also is making reasonable efforts to return the child to the child's family. In making determinations and reasonable efforts under this section, the primary consideration is the child's best interests.

In policy: Each child who is subject to an open child protection case will have an identified permanency goal. In most cases, the first goal will be for the child to remain in their home if the child has not been legally removed, or to reunify a child with one or both parents if the child is in an out-of-home placement after a temporary custody order.

During the family services assessment process, the caseworker will do both of the following:

• Identify the most appropriate primary permanency goal for the child
• Identify the most appropriate alternative goal for the child when it appears achievement of the primary goal within the Federal timeframe of 15 out of the last 22 months will not occur

An alternative goal is not necessary for children remaining in their home.