                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PARENTAL CHILD SAFETY PLACEMENT AGREEMENT; TERMS (§ 63.2-1533)

A. A parental child safety placement agreement shall include provisions
describing the following:

   1. The facts and circumstances that provide the basis for the safety
   assessment indicating that the child cannot remain safely in the home;

   2. The responsibilities of the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal
   custodian and the caregiver, including a plan for how the caregiver will
   access necessary medical treatment, mental health services, and appropriate
   educational services for the child;

   3. Visitation arrangements for the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal
   custodian, including supervised visitation as necessary, and other methods by
   which the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal custodian may contact the
   child;

   4. The responsibilities of the local department, including (i) any services to
   be provided to the child, the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal
   custodian, and the caregiver and (ii) a requirement that the local department
   visits the caregiver&#8217;s home (a) within two weeks of the placement and
   (b) thereafter in accordance with Board regulations;

   5. The date on which the agreement will terminate unless terminated sooner or
   extended to a subsequent date as provided in this article; and

   6. Any other terms the local department determines necessary for the safety
   and welfare of the child.

B. A parental child safety placement agreement shall contain the following:

   1. A statement that the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal custodian
   voluntarily consents to the parental child safety placement arrangement and
   that such consent is not an admission of child abuse or neglect on such
   person&#8217;s part;

   2. A statement that the agreement may be terminated by any party, at any time,
   and for any reason and a statement that, upon such termination, the local
   department may take actions to protect the child, including the removal of the
   child pursuant to the provisions of this title;

   3. A statement that the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal custodian and
   the caregiver may seek legal counsel prior to entering into the agreement;

   4. A statement that the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal custodian and
   the caregiver have the right to refuse to enter into the agreement; and

   5. A statement that the local department has notified the child&#8217;s
   parent, guardian, or legal custodian and the caregiver of the alternative
   option for the child to enter foster care and the potential for the caregiver
   to become an approved kinship foster parent.

C. Prior to signing the parental child safety placement agreement, the local
department shall notify the caregiver of any financial assistance available to
the caregiver through the Program for the period of time that the agreement is
in place.

D. A parental child safety placement agreement shall be in writing and signed by
the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, the caregiver, and the
local department.

E. The local department shall provide a written copy of the parental child
safety placement agreement to the child&#8217;s parent, guardian, or legal
custodian and the caregiver.

F. The local department shall include a scanned copy of the parental child
safety placement agreement in the case record.

G. The term of the parental child safety placement agreement shall be no more
than 90 days from the date the agreement is signed, which shall, as applicable,
run concurrently with the time necessary to complete the child protective
services investigation or family assessment. A parental child safety placement
agreement may be extended, but such extension shall not exceed one additional
90-day period and the reason for such extension shall be documented in the case
record. Prior to any extension, the local department shall conduct a facilitated
meeting and perform a safety assessment to determine whether (i) the child
should be returned home, (ii) the agreement should be extended, or (iii) the
local department should seek a child protective order or other court action.

H. The In-Home Services case shall remain open for the duration of the parental
child safety placement agreement.

HISTORY: 2024, cc. 629, 662.