Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 65C-28.017 - Exit Interviews

(1) The child welfare professional or designee shall conduct an exit interview with every child age five and older up until the eighteenth birthday who leaves a licensed out-of-home care placement if the child has resided in that placement for 30 days or more. Attempts shall be made to conduct an exit interview with young adults who exit extended foster care.

(a) The interview shall be conducted within five business days of the child's exit from the licensed out-of-home care placement.

(b) The child welfare professional will make and document a minimum of three attempts to interview a youth who is 17 years old before transitioning from licensed out-of-home care to adulthood. All attempts shall be documented in the CCWIS system.

(c) If the child alleges abuse, neglect, or any maltreatment during the exit interview, the interviewer shall make an immediate report to the Florida Abuse Hotline.

(d) If the child reports issues relating to the quality of care that do not rise to the level of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment, the interviewer shall report these issues to the licensing unit responsible for licensing the out-of-home caregiver or group care facility within three business days of completion of the exit interview and document the notification in the CCWIS system.

(2) The information gathered during the interview shall be dependent on the age of the child. The interviewer's observations and any information to explain the child's responses shall be recorded on the Child Exit Interview form, CF-FSP 5455 (February 2022), incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14109.

(3) Prior to completing the Child Exit Interview form, the child welfare professional or designee shall inform the child of the purpose of the exit interview and how the information will be used.

(4) The child welfare professional or designee shall not be required to complete an exit interview in the following circumstances:

(a) When there has been a change in placement type to reflect adoptive placement, but no physical change in placement has occurred.

(b) If a child was on runaway status and returns to the same placement.

(c) If the youth ages out of foster care and remains in the same home.

(d) If the child is hospitalized for a medical or mental health reason and returns to the home.

(e) If the child is placed in the Department of Juvenile Justice detention center and returns to the home.

(5) When needed as a result of safety or quality of care issues raised by the child, the Department or contracted service provider shall develop a corrective action plan. The type of plan can range from providing more intense supervision, support, or training for the caregiver to a more formal corrective action plan or a recommendation for revocation of the license.

(6) When corrective action is necessary, written follow-up shall be completed within 90 days.

(7) Upon completion of the child exit interview, the child welfare professional or designee shall perform the following tasks:

(a) The completed interview form, any Department or contracted service provider response, and documented of any follow-up shall be placed in the child's case record;

(b) A copy of the completed interview form shall be provided to licensing staff with the community-based care lead agency and the Department's Regional Licensing team and placed in the out-of-home caregivers' licensing file within two business days of the interview; and

(c) If requested, copies of the exit interviews shall be sent to the Department.

(8) All child welfare professionals or designees who conduct exit interviews shall receive training from the community-based care lead agency (CBC) or its contracted provider. All trainings developed by the CBC or contracted provider must include components that address appropriate methods to conduct the delivery of an exit interview and instructions regarding creating safe and private environments for the child to complete the interview.

(9) This rule will be reviewed and repealed, modified, or renewed through the rulemaking process five years from the effective date.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 65C-28.017

Rulemaking Authority 39.012, 39.0121(13), 409.1415(4), 409.145(4) FS. Law Implemented 409.1415 FS.

New 5-4-06, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 041, March 1, 2022 effective 3/15/2022.

New 5-4-06, Amended 3-15-22.