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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63455</law_id><section_number>16.1-346.1</section_number><catch_line>Discharge plan</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Psychiatric Treatment of Minors Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Prior to discharge of any <span class="dictionary">minor</span> admitted to <span class="dictionary">inpatient treatment</span>, including a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> in detention or <span class="dictionary">shelter care</span> pursuant to an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of a juvenile and domestic relations district court, a discharge plan shall be formulated, provided and explained to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, and copies thereof shall be sent (i) to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">parents</span> or (ii) if the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the local <span class="dictionary">department</span> of social services, to the <span class="dictionary">department</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">director</span> or the <span class="dictionary">director</span>&#x2019;s designee or (iii) to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">parents</span> and (a) if the juvenile is to be housed in a <span class="dictionary">detention home</span> upon discharge, to <span class="dictionary">the court</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> has been filed and the facility superintendent, or (b) if the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is in <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the local <span class="dictionary">department</span> of social services, to the <span class="dictionary">department</span>. A copy of the plan shall also be provided, upon request, to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s attorney and <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> was admitted to a state facility, the discharge plan shall be contained in a uniform discharge document developed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The plan shall, at a minimum, (i) specify the services required by the released <span class="dictionary">minor</span> in the community to meet his needs for treatment, housing, nutrition, physical care, and safety; (ii) specify any income subsidies for which the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is eligible; (iii) identify all local and state agencies which will be involved in providing treatment and support to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>; and (iv) specify services which would be appropriate for the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s treatment and support in the community but which are currently unavailable. A <span class="dictionary">minor</span> in detention or <span class="dictionary">shelter care</span> prior to admission to <span class="dictionary">inpatient treatment</span> shall be returned to the <span class="dictionary">detention home</span>, <span class="dictionary">shelter care</span>, or other facility approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Juvenile Justice within 24 hours by the sheriff serving the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> where the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> was detained upon release from the treating facility, unless the juvenile and domestic relations district court having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the case has provided written authorization for release of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, prior to the scheduled date of release.</p></section></text><history>1991, c. 159; 1995, c. 304; 2005, cc. 346, 716; 2010, cc. 778, 825.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
