1130. Safety Plan

Applies To: This policy applies to child welfare (CW) and Licensing Division Child Protective
Services (LD CPS) employees.

Policy Number & Title: 1130. Safety Plan

Effective Date: July 25, 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on developing, implementing, and monitoring safety plans. A safety plan is a written agreement between a family and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) that identifies how safety threats to children or youth will be immediately controlled and managed in the home. Safety plans are effective as long as threats to children’s and youth's safety exist and the protective capacities of caregivers are insufficient to protect children or youth.

Authority

PL 105-89 Adoption and Safe Families Act

RCW 26.44.030 Reports–Duty and authority to make–Duty of receiving agency–Duty to notify–Case planning and consultation–Penalty for unauthorized exchange of information–Filing dependency petitions–Investigations–Interviews of children–Records–Risk assessment process

RCW 26.44.195 Negligent treatment or maltreatment–Offer services–Evidence of substance abuse–In-home services–Initiation of dependency proceedings

Policy

Caseworkers and LD CPS investigators must:
1. Develop a Safety Plan DCYF 15-258B form in FamLink and follow the Safety Plan Analysis Guide:
  1. When an identified safety threat meets the safety threshold and children or youth are determined unsafe.
  2. With participants who are suitable, reliable, and can provide a greater level of protection for children or youth than the parents.
2. Verify safety plans:
  1. Will control or manage safety threats.
  2. Have an immediate impact and includes actions that immediately address safety threats.
LD CPS investigators must contact the appropriate CW supervisor when they have completed a safety plan on unsafe biological, adoptive, or guardianship children or youth.
Caseworkers must:
1. Follow the Safety Assessment policy.
2. Review and monitor safety plans a minimum of twice monthly as long as a safety threat exists.
3. Revise safety plans and complete a new Safety Assessment/Safety Plan DCYF 15-258 form in FamLink as threats emerge or are eliminated throughout the life of a case.
LD employees must follow the DLR/CPS Use of Safety Assessment and Safety Planning Tools policy.
CW and LD employees must follow the Documentation policy.