RSA 169-F:7 · Oversight of Children in Care; Department Responsibilities

169-F:7 Oversight of Children in Care; Department Responsibilities. –
I. Any child in a court-ordered placement pursuant to RSA 169-B, RSA 169-C, or RSA 169-D shall be seen in-person on at least a monthly basis, by their assigned case worker. In the event the assigned case worker is not available, another case worker or supervisor familiar with the child and/or case may perform the visit. The visit to the child shall include a private meeting with the child, in a safe place as determined by the case worker and child, to inquire about care received, as well as an in-person tour of the child's living quarters. The monthly contact shall also include contact with the child's placement provider, therapeutic providers, and educational providers, preferably in real-time, but at least by written correspondence. In addition, for any child placed in a residential placement by the department, these visits shall include a tour of the facility where the child may have access to; a check-in with appropriate leadership about program culture and therapeutic programming; a check-in with program direct care staff about the child's progress in the program; and a check-in with the clinical director and/or the child's therapeutic provider about the program culture, therapeutic programming, and the child's individual progress, strengths, and challenges in the program, which may occur outside of the in-person visit in virtual real-time if circumstances require.
II. The department shall develop, in consultation with the office of child advocate, a standard operating procedure and form for monthly visits with children conducted by the department, pursuant to paragraph I of this section, to be completed during each monthly in-person visit.
Source. 2024, 377:6, eff. Jan. 1, 2025. 2025, 99:3, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.