2005 Idaho Code - 16-1621 — CASE PLAN HEARING

                                  TITLE  16
                             JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS
                                  CHAPTER 16
                             CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT
    16-1621.  CASE PLAN HEARING. (1) The department shall prepare a written
case plan in every case in which the child is determined to be within the
jurisdiction of the court, including cases in which the parent(s) is
incarcerated. The case plan shall be filed with the court no later than sixty
(60) days from the date the child was removed from the home or thirty (30)
days after the adjudicatory hearing, whichever occurs first. Copies of the
case plan shall be delivered to the parents and other legal guardians, the
guardian ad litem and attorney for the child. Within five (5) days of filing
the plan, the court shall hold a planning hearing to determine whether to
adopt, reject or modify the case plan proposed by the department.
    (2)  Notice of the case plan hearing shall be provided to the parents,
legal guardians, guardians ad litem and foster parents. Although foster
parents are provided notice of this hearing, they are not parties to the child
protective act action.
    (3)  The case plan shall set forth reasonable efforts which will be made
to make it possible for the child to return to his home and shall concurrently
include a plan setting forth reasonable efforts to place the child for
adoption, with a legal guardian, or in another approved permanent placement.
Whenever possible, the child's connections to the community, including
individuals with a significant relationship to the child, religious
organizations and community activities, will be maintained through the
transition. The plan shall state with specificity the role of the department
toward each parent.
    (4)  The case plan, as approved by the court, shall be entered into the
record as an order of the court. In the absence of a finding of aggravated
circumstances as provided for in section 16-1619(6)(d), Idaho Code, the
court's order shall provide that reasonable efforts shall be made to reunify
the family in a timely manner in accordance with the case plan or in the
alternative to complete the steps necessary to finalize the permanent
placement of the child.