A resident is considered absent without leave (AWOL) when absent from the group home without the permission of staff.  The group home staff notifies the resident's Child Welfare (CW) worker and law enforcement.  When a resident remains AWOL for five days, the group home supervisor terminates the resident's placement in the group home and notifies the resident's CW worker.  The group home staff secures the AWOL resident's belongings for safekeeping.  If the placement is terminated, the belongings are sent to the child's CW worker.