DISCUSSION:

This memorandum addresses steps staff should follow when there is a lack of consensus at Family Support Team (FST) or Permanency Planning Review Team (PPRT) meetings. Occasionally, there are situations when FST/PPRT participants put forth recommendations which Children’s Division (CD) staff cannot accept as the recommendations are not believed to be in the best interest of the child and/or conflicts with Child Welfare policy.

Unless otherwise indicated in the Child Welfare Manual (CWM), staff should follow the steps listed below when confronted with a lack of consensus at a FST/PPRT meeting. The Children’s Service Worker (CSW) should:

1. Inform the participants of the meeting that s(he) may not agree with the recommendation and will need to seek supervisory guidance.
2. Refer the issue to the next level of supervision for review and guidance.
3. The Supervisor/Circuit Manager or designee should review the recommendation.
   1. If it is determined the recommendation is in the best interest of the child, the Supervisor/Circuit Manager or designee should provide written documentation to the CSW as to why the recommendation is appropriate, and the CSW should then submit the case plan to the court of jurisdiction.

   2. If it is determined the recommendation is not in the best interest of the child, the Supervisor/Circuit Manager or designee should provide the CSW with written documentation as to why the recommendation is not appropriate. The CSW should then submit the case plan along with a written explanation to the court of jurisdiction why the CD believes the specific recommendation is not in the best interest of the child. 

       

The recommendations listed below are two examples which the Children’s Division may not agree with the FST/PPRT participants:

• The FST/PPRT recommends a child be placed in an out-of-state residential treatment facility, or
• The FST/PPRT recommends the separation of a sibling group for placement or adoption.

If these, or any other recommendations, appear to not be in the best interest of the child, and/or conflicts with CD’s Child Welfare policy, staff should follow the steps listed above before agreeing to implement the recommendation.