1710. Shared Planning Meetings

Applies To:  This policy applies to child welfare employees.

Policy Number & Title:  1710. Shared Planning Meetings

Effective Date:  September 1, 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on conducting shared planning meetings (SPMs) to engage parents, children and youth, caregivers, relatives, fictive kin, natural supports, and others, as appropriate, in the development of a plan that prioritizes child safety and meets the support and service needs of the parents, children and youth, and caregivers. These meetings provide an opportunity for information to be shared, case plans to be developed and decisions made that will support the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and youth.

Authority

PL 113-183  Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act 
RCW 13.34.067  Shelter Care, Case Conference, Service Agreement
RCW 13.34.094  Description of Services Provided to Parents
RCW 13.34.145  Permanency planning hearing-Purpose - Time limits-Goals-Review hearing-Petition for termination of parental rights - Guardianship petition - Agency responsibility to provide services to parents - Due process rights
RCW 74.13.341  Transition plan - Qualification for developmental disability services
RCW 74.13.540  Independent Living Services
RCW 74.14A.020  Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict

Policy

  1. SPMs must occur within the required timeframes or when required due to circumstances outlined in the Guide to Shared Planning Meetings DCYF CWP_0070 publication for the following meeting types:
    1. Adoption Planning Review (APR)
    2. Behavioral Rehabilitative Services
    3. Child Health and Education Tracking (CHET)
    4. Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC)
    5. Developmental Disabilities Services Planning
    6. End-of-Life Care
    7. Family Team Decision Making (FTDM)
    8. Foster Care Assessment Program (FCAP) 
    9. Indian Child Welfare Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory Committee (LICWAC)
    10. Inpatient Mental Health Treatment for Children
    11. Permanency Planning Meeting
    12. Shelter Care Case Conference 
    13. Substance Abuse Disorder Testing, Assessment and Treatment
    14. Transition Staffing: Transition Plan for Dependent Youth 17 through 20 years, referred to as Multi-Disciplinary Staffing (For Youth 17.5) in FamLink.
  2. Participants listed on the Guide to Shared Planning Meetings DCYF CWP_0070 publication must be invited to SPMs.
  3. Incarcerated parents must be provided access and opportunities to participate in SPMs.
  4. The child’s or youth’s safety, permanency and well-being must be discussed during SPMs.
  5. Family time and sibling and relative visits must be discussed during the meeting when children or youth are placed out of the home. Discussions will include a review of the family time and sibling and relative visitation plans, necessary level of supervision during the family time to verify the safety of the child or youth, transportation, and efforts to include relatives and family supports during family time.
  6. SPMs must be documented on the Shared Planning Meeting DCYF 14-474 form in FamLink.

Forms

Shared Planning Meeting DCYF 14-474

Resources

Adoption Planning Review (APR) policy

Behavioral Rehabilitative Services policy

Child Health and Education Tracking (CHET) policy

Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) policy

End-of-Life Care policy

Family Team Decision Making Meetings (FTDM) policy

Foster Care Assessment Program (FCAP) 

Health and Safety Visits with Children and Youth and Monthly Visits with Parents and Caregivers policy 

Indian Child Welfare Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory Committee (LICWAC) policy

Inpatient Mental Health Treatment for Children policy

Permanency and Concurrent Planning policy

Shared Planning Meeting Guide DCYF CWP_0070 publication

Shared Planning Meeting procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

Shelter Care Case Conference policy

Substance Abuse Disorder Testing, Assessment and Treatment policy

The Transition Plan (for Dependent Youth 17 through 20 years) policy

Original Date:  September 1, 2006

Revised Date:  September 1, 2021

Review Date:  September 30, 2025

Approved by:  Jody Becker, Deputy Secretary