1.   (a) Family team meeting purpose and requirements.  The family team meeting (FTM) is designed to assist Child Welfare (CW) staff in case planning directed at achieving permanency for a child in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) custody or under OKDHS supervision in the shortest time possible to ensure the:

(1) child is placed or moved timely into a placement resource that can, if necessary, provide a permanent home;

(2) essential elements of the case are communicated when the case is transferred between specialists, counties, and when a child is in an out-of-state Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) placement.

(b) The FTM process is initiated for each child in OKDHS custody or under OKDHS supervision, who is placed outside the parent, legal guardian, or custodian(s)' home, including out-of-state ICPC placements.  The process:

(1) begins after the child is removed from the home; and

(2) continues while the child remains outside the parent(s), legal guardian(s), or custodian(s)' home.

(c) Family team meetings are held:

(1) following the assessment of child safety to identify family supports that can be used to keep the child safely in the child's home, or when removal of the child is necessary, as part of the placement process to identify kin who can provide temporary care for the child;

(2) within 30 days after a court determination that reasonable efforts are not required; and

(3) as part of the ongoing assessment process and Individualized Service Plan (ISP) development;

(4) when efforts are needed to maintain the stability of the child's current placement;

(5) when a decision is made to actively implement concurrent planning;

(6) when an alternate permanency plan is indicated; and

(7) prior to reunification; or

(8) a minimum of once every six months.

2.   FTM responsibility.  The county with court jurisdiction is responsible for coordinating and conducting the FTM.  The Child Welfare (CW) county of jurisdiction specialist:

(1) contacts the appropriate persons to participate as members of the FTM for each case;

(2) when services are provided to the child and family by more than one county, obtains input from each county involved;

(3) informs any FTM member, who is unable to attend the FTM, that any written or verbal input from the FTM member provided to the CW specialist at least 24 hours prior to the FTM is presented at the FTM; and

(4) documents the results of each FTM in KIDS Contacts screen no later than 30 days after completion of each FTM.  The detailed summary of FTM results included in the KIDS Contacts screen, at a minimum, includes:

(A) a listing of all attendees;

(B) discussions regarding any identified barriers to permanency; and

(C) action steps identified during the meeting and the name of the person responsible for completing the action with an identified time for completion.

3.   FTM for assessment of child safety.  The assessment of child safety FTM occurs when an in-home or out-of-home safety plan is required and engages families to identify supports or resources that assist in keeping a child safely in the home or assist in the identification of possible kin caregivers for the child when necessary.  The CW specialist:

(1) utilizes Form 04MP045E, Family Team Meeting Confidentiality Statement, to document that all FTM members understand the confidential nature of the information being shared, and Form 04MP046E, Family Team Meeting Guide and Summary, to document the results of the FTM; and

(2) places scanned Forms 04MP045E and 04MP046E in KIDS file cabinet, files original Form  04MP046E in the case and sends a copy to the CW field liaison (CWFL), child's attorney, and, when applicable, any other county with case assignment.

4.   FTM for ongoing assessment process, case progress, or individualized service plan (ISP) development.  The ISP development, ongoing assessment, or case progress FTM is conducted when the child is in OKDHS custody and out-of-home care six months.  The CW specialist begins counting the six months from the earlier of the child's date of adjudication or 60 days after the child's date of removal from the home.

(1) A FTM includes, but is not limited to the:

(A) child;

(B) child's:

(i) parents;

(ii) legal guardian, if any;

(iii) extended family;

(iv) caregivers;

(v) court-appointed special advocate (CASA) or guardian ad litem, when applicable;

(vi) tribal representative, when applicable;

(vii) attorney; and

(viii) CW specialist and supervisor;

(C) service providers;

(D) Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) staff, when applicable;

(E) SoonerStart staff, when applicable;

(F) post adjudication review board (PARB) member; and

(G) district attorney.

(2) Prior to case discussion, the FTM facilitator:

(A) explains the confidential nature of the meeting;

(B) requests all team members sign Form 04MP045E acknowledging confidentiality; and

(C) utilizes Form 04MP046E, Family Team Meeting Guide and Summary, as a reference source for discussion by the team.  The purpose of the FTM is to:

(i) identify barriers to permanent placement; and

(ii) propose and implement solutions to the barriers.

5.   FTM for concurrent planning and alternate permanency plan.  When a decision is made to pursue concurrent planning or an alternate permanency plan, a FTM is facilitated to ensure the family understands the poor prognosis indicators for reunification and the need to identify an alternate permanent caregiver.  Forms 04MP040E, Concurrent Planning Determination Tool, and 04MP046E are utilized for this FTM.

6.   FTM for reunification.  A FTM is facilitated when a decision has been made to reunify a family to identify the supports the family needs from the extended family to keep the child safe.

7.   FTM and permanency meeting and permanency report.  When a FTM is held as a permanency meeting to discuss recommendations regarding the child's permanency plan, information gathered during the meeting is included in Form 04KI014E, Individualized Service Plan (ISP) Progress Report.  Refer to OAC 340:75-1-18.1.  The progress report includes, but is not limited to:

(1) efforts and progress demonstrated by the child's parent to:

(A) comply with the individualized service plan;

(B) change behaviors or conditions; and

(C) develop protective capacities;

(2) the status of the child, including the child's behavioral, physical, and emotional health; and

(3) a recommendation regarding the child's placement, whether it should be extended and the reasons for the recommendation.

8.   FTM during trial reunification.  A FTM is not required for the child placed in trial reunification unless the court orders an extension of trial reunification beyond six months.  During the trial reunification FTM, the team:

(1) identifies issues and concerns that have necessitated an extension of trial reunification;

(2) proposes a plan to address the issues including, but not limited to:

(A) recommendations for services;

(B) initiation or modification of safety plans; and

(C) other strategies to meet identified family needs as applicable and appropriate.

9.   FTM and adoption criteria staffing.  When the paid or non-paid kin placement resource or foster parent(s) of the child requests adoption of the child, a local adoptive placement criteria staffing is required.

(1) The criteria staffing may occur concurrently with the FTM when the FTM is scheduled to be held within 30 days of the kin or foster parent's request.  The attendance of the adoption specialist is mandatory.

(2) Forms 04MP046E and 04AN020E, Adoptive Placement Criteria Staffing, are completed by the CW county of jurisdiction specialist.  Upon completion of the FTM, the CW specialist ensures a copy of Form 04AN020E is provided to the adoption specialist in attendance for processing.

10.  FTM and reviews conducted every six months.  Subsequent reviews are completed every six months until the child exits out-of-home care utilizing FTM Forms 04MP045E and 04MP046E.  When Form 04AN022E, Child Profile Assessment for Adoption, has been completed for the child, this form may substitute for Form 04MP046E.

11.  Reporting FTM results to the court.  The CW specialist attaches Form 04MP046E, or includes a summary of the FTM on Form 04KI009E, Court Report, or Form 04KI014E, Individualized Service Plan (ISP) Progress Report, for the next court hearing following the FTM.