If the permanency goal is Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement with a foster family or other family arrangement with CPS maintaining conservatorship, staff must take steps to review and consider other permanency options that would not involve the department maintaining conservatorship. Such steps may include:

 •  re-contacting relatives to review their interest and circumstances;

 •  revisiting the parent’s situation to determine if the safety threats are controlled; and

 •  identifying or strengthening support systems that could assist a parent or relative in caring for a child.

Staff works with the youth to identify a family or other caring adult with whom the youth can identify and have a sense of belonging. The family or caring adult must offer a safe, parental relationship and be supportive of the youth’s aging-out-of-care needs. Such families or adults may include a:

 •  youth’s biological family, relatives, or extended family;

 •  current or a former foster family;

 •  sponsor or mentor’s family; or

 •  faith-based support family.