Concurrent
Permanency
Planning
Concurrent Permanency
Planning (CPP)
The process of working towards reunification while
at the same time planning an alternative
permanency plan in the event that reunification
efforts are unsuccessful.
Concurrent Permanency Planning
Plan A = is reunification
Plan B = must be one of the following federally
approved permanency goals in order of
preference: adoption, guardianship, permanent
placement with a fit and willing relative, or another
planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA)
CPP:
Plan A & Plan B
 Parents informed of concurrent permanency
planning process from day one.
 Parents must have opportunity to provide input
on Plan B.
 Plan B is only initiated after court determines
reunification is no longer the goal.
 Goal is timely permanency for children in care.
Hint:
 Discuss permanency plans with parents and
placement caregivers early and often.
 Ensure that foster parents/caregivers are involved
and informed.
 Always let parents know exactly when and how
services/action steps are to be completed.
Concurrent Permanency Planning
Policy Guidelines
 See 722-9 for guidelines for Permanency Planning
Goal recommendations.
 Permanency Planning Goal recommendation must
be documented in the “Recommendations to the
Court” section of every USP.
 Recommendations to change the Permanency
Planning Goal do not require a Permanency
Planning Hearing.
full disclosure n.
The process of being open and honest with all parties (birth
family, foster family, attorneys, etc.) about the concurrent
permanency planning process. All parties are informed that
there will be an alternative permanency plan for the child if
the child can not safely return home within a reasonable
amount of time.
The birth parents must clearly understand what is required in
order for the child to safely return home. They must also
understand that if they do not meet the expectations
required in a reasonable time frame, the agency will make
a recommendation to the court to implement the
alternative permanency plan.
Full Disclosure:
 Provide honest and open feedback.
 Child safety concerns must be addressed.
 Clearly present timeframes and expectations.
 Communicate parental rights and responsibilities.
 Structured Decision Making process must be followed.
CPP:
Parent/Child Contact Guidelines
 Ages 0 to 2 years of age:
3 visits per week
 Ages 3 to 5 years of age:
2 visits per week
 Ages 6 years and up: 1 visit per week
Parent/Child Contact
 Ask relatives/foster parents to supervise
additional visits.
 Utilize community activities/events to provide
additional visits.
 Include parents and foster parents in parenting
time plan.
 See visitation guideline handouts for additional
ideas.
Examples of Parent/Child
Contact
 Medical/dental visits.
 Early On services for infants.
 Extracurricular/Sporting activities.
 Family Counseling.
 Church.
 School lunch/daycare feedings.
 Transportation.
 Foster home visitations.
 Family Team Meetings.
diligent relative search n.
Child Welfare staff must complete a diligent
search for relatives or non-relatives for
child(ren) in foster care. The relative search
must be initiated by the CPS worker upon
removal. The FC worker must continue
quarterly search and engagement efforts
until the child obtains legal permanency.
Specific guidelines for relative search
requirements are outlined in FOM 722-6 and
PSM 715-2.
CPP:
Relative Search
 Relatives can be utilized for visitation supervision,
transportation and respite.
 All relative search efforts must be documented
using search forms and in Social Work contacts.
 Continuous engagement of relatives
CPP:
Relative Search Forms
 DHS 987 – Relative
Documentation: Relative
contact information
 DHS 988 – Relative Search Information:
Additional relative search contacts
 DHS 989 – Relative Response Form:
How relatives want to be involved.
 DHS 990 – Relative Notification
 DHS 991 – Diligent Search Checklist
frontloading services n.
Foster Care (FC) worker makes appropriate
service referrals for the family as soon as possible
after the child enters foster care, but no later than
30 days after the initial placement.
Parents should be encouraged to participate in
services. However, parental compliance with
service plan is voluntary until court disposition
unless the court orders otherwise [MCL
712A.13a(8)(c)]. Declining to participate, prior to
the dispositional hearing, will not be determined
as failure to comply with the supervising agency
FOM 722-6.
CPP:
Front Loading Services
 Provide service referrals for primary needs no
later than 30 days from initial removal.
 Delays in service provision must not be based on
“favorite” providers.
 Requires close collaboration with courts, family,
caregivers and service providers.
 Clear understanding by parents that “clock is
ticking” from day one.