Ariz. Admin. Code § R21-5-205 - Out-of-home Care Services for Foster Youth 18 through 20 Years of Age

A. The Department may provide out-of-home care services and supervision to a foster youth less than 21 years of age, who reached the age of 18 years while in the custody of the Department, and was either in out-of-home care or in secure care, as defined by A.R.S. § 8-201, through a delinquency action, when the foster youth:

1. Requests out-of-home care;

2. Has residency in the state of Arizona;

3. Participates in developing an individual case plan agreement for out-of-home care; and

4. Demonstrates acceptance of personal responsibility for his or her part of the agreement through active participation in the individual case plan.

B. The foster youth, Child Safety Worker, and involved service team members shall develop the individual case plan for out-of-home care:

1. Within the 90-day period prior to the foster youth's 18th birthday for foster youth continuing in out-of-home care past 18 years of age;

2. Within ten work days for foster youth who enter out-of-home care during the 90-day period prior to the foster youth's 18th birthday; and

3. For eligible youth re-entering foster care at 18 years of age or older, within seven work days of the eligible youth's return to Department care and supervision.

C. The individual case plan shall outline the services and supports to be provided under R21-5-202(B) and include at least one of the following activities:

1. Completion of secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;

2. Enrollment in an institution that provides post-secondary education or vocational education;

3. Participation in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment; or

4. Employment of at least 80 hours per month.

D. Foster youth participating in out-of-home care shall demonstrate acceptance of personal responsibility by actively participating in an individual case plan, unless prevented by a documented behavioral health or medical condition, or other personal crisis or life event, such as pregnancy, birth, necessary maternity leave as determined by a medical professional, adoption, or guardianship of a child.

E. The Child Safety Worker shall support the foster youth to address any documented condition, crisis, or life event listed in subsection (D), by:

1. Facilitating a youth led discussion that includes a review of the supports and services available as intervention strategies, to assist in resolving the condition, crisis, or concern;

2. Documenting the foster youth's preferred intervention strategy for addressing the condition, crisis, or concern; and

3. Expeditiously providing or otherwise arranging the preferred intervention strategy.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R21-5-205

New section made by exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 3255, effective 1/24/2016. Amended by emergency rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 771, effective 3/21/2019. Amended by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 241, effective 3/15/2020.