Sec. 07.01.06.04. Local Board Responsibilities

A. The local board shall develop and adhere to local plans for citizen reviews which shall:

(1) Be developed through discussions with the local director and other partners as are mutually agreed upon by the local boards and local department;

(2) Be effective when approved by the:

(a) State Board, and

(b) Secretary; and

(3) Remain effective until renegotiated and approved by the Secretary and State Board.

B. Schedule of Citizen Reviews.

(1) The local board shall schedule and conduct timely citizen reviews for children in out-of-home placements:

(a) At least once:

(i) During the first 12 months after a child enters out-of-home placement;

(ii) Between the 15th and 24th month in out-of-home placement; and

(iii) Within the 25th to 30th months in out-of-home placement; and

(b) Every 6 months after the 30th month, when:

(i) A child is in permanent care;

(ii) The court has ceased the review; and

(iii) The local plan specifies that the review occurs.

(2) After the 30th month, when a child is not in permanent care, the local board shall have discretion to review the child's case at least every 6 months.

(3) If internal, citizen, or court reviews do not fulfill federal and State mandates, the local board shall schedule additional citizen reviews.

C. The local board shall review cases from the entire out-of-home population according to the local plan which:

(1) Shall include a mechanism for making data available for all children from the entire out-of-home population;

(2) Shall provide citizen reviews for 100 percent of the children in foster care, group care, and residential treatment centers;

(3) May provide for a citizen review of a sample of at least 10 percent of the unpaid kinship care population; and

(4) Shall review siblings together, notwithstanding the:

(a) Time frames of §B of this regulation; and

(b) Provisions on reviews of kinship care in §C(3) of this regulation.

D. The local board shall summarize the findings and recommendations as described in Regulation .05B of this chapter.

E. The local board shall submit a written report of the board's findings and recommendations within 15 days of the review to the:

(1) Local department;

(2) Court;

(3) Parents and caregivers; and

(4) Other interested individuals.

F. The local board shall report to the appropriate juvenile court and local department the status of efforts to:

(1) Secure a permanent home for children in out-of-home placement; and

(2) Provide for the safety and well-being of children under the court's jurisdiction.

G. The local board shall identify the conditions and practices that are barriers to permanent placements, safety, and well-being of children in out-of-home care.

H. The local board shall advocate for removal of conditions or practices that are barriers to permanent placements, safety, and well-being of children in out-of-home care.