Except in the case of emergency removal, the department shall provide notification to the foster parents, the child’s attorney and the child’s guardian ad litem

• in writing (DCF-2082)
• at least fourteen (14) calendar days before removal
• of its decision to remove the child from the out of home care provider
• of the reasons for the decision to remove the child
• of the provider’s right to request a removal hearing if the provider disagrees with the removal.

In the case of an emergency removal, the department shall provide notification to the foster parents, the child’s attorney and the child’s guardian ad litem

• in writing (DCF-2082)
• at the time of the removal or as soon thereafter as possible
• of the reasons for the decision to remove the child
• of the provider’s right to request a removal hearing if the provider disagrees with the removal.

Workers shall use “Notification to Foster Parent / Certified Relative Placement of a Child’s Placement Change” (DCF-2082) when notifying the family, child’s attorney and the child’s guardian ad litem of the placement change. The notice shall specify the reasons for the decision to remove the child and should include statutory, regulatory and policy citations supporting the decision.

A copy of the notification form shall be forwarded to the Division of Administrative Law and Policy.

Except in the case of emergency removal, the child should not be removed from the foster home prior to the fourteen days indicated in the notice letter.

The child may be removed from the foster home prior to the fourteen days provided in the notice letter if

• the foster parents agree to the removal
• the foster parents request an earlier removal.

The foster parent has ten days to request a removal hearing. The child should not be removed prior to ten days after notice of the removal was provided unless

• the foster parents have indicated, in writing, they
• are in agreement with the child’s removal
• do not intend to request a removal hearing
• it is determined an emergency exists, or is suspected to exist, by leaving the child in the home.

If the foster parents request a removal hearing and are found to be eligible for a hearing by the Administrative Hearings Unit, the worker must leave the child in the home pending the outcome of the removal hearing unless it is determined an emergency exists or is suspected to exist.

Note: Only foster parents/relative caretakers who have had a child placed in their home for over twelve months are eligible for a removal hearing.

When foster parents/caretakers request that a child be removed from their home, the child’s worker or the worker’s supervisor shall meet with them and the child

• on the same day in the case of immediate removal request

• within five (5) working days in non-emergency situations.

The meeting with the foster parents requesting a child’s removal shall be held to determine:

• the reason(s) for the request for the child’s removal
• the impact upon the child of continuing the current placement
• services that were offered to maintain placement in the past
• the foster parents willingness to continue the placement, and
• what reasonable services (e.g., day care, parent aide) may enable the foster parent to continue to care for the child.

If it is in the child’s best interest to maintain the placement, the worker shall arrange for the agreed upon provision(s) of service(s) and shall advise the FASU worker of the agreement.

If the outcome is to remove the child, the worker (or supervisor) shall immediately contact the FASU unit to begin the search for a new placement.

If, in the worker’s best judgment, the child is not in danger, the foster parent(s) shall be asked to allow the child to remain in their home to allow a planned move to a new placement for the child.

To the extent possible, counseling and support shall be provided to the child and the foster family(s) around issues of transition.

The worker shall assist the child with issues of loss pertaining to the move to reduce the possibility of future placement failures.

The child who is old enough to understand the situation shall be informed in person by the worker of the reasons for the move, and the child shall have pre-placement visits to the new foster care setting.

Contact between the child and the former foster parent shall be allowed if it is deemed to be in the child’s best interest and is desired by the child. If the child is receiving counseling or therapy, the counselor/therapist shall be contacted to assist in determining if continuing contact is in the child’s best interest.

Contact between former and current caretakers may be encouraged through the pre-approved exchange of telephone numbers, unless there is a specific reason why such contact is inappropriate.