N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:51-6.2 - Visitation and communication

(a) The Department office having supervision of the child in placement, in consultation with the resource family parent, shall determine the family members and friends with whom the child may communicate and visit.

(b) Level I visitation and communication requirements are as follows:

1. The resource family parent shall comply with the visitation restrictions specified by the Department for each child in placement.

2. The resource family parent shall provide each child in placement with access to a telephone for telephone conversations with the child's worker and law guardian or law guardian investigator, as applicable.

i. The resource family parent shall not obligate the child in placement to pay for the cost of telephone calls to and from the worker or law guardian.

ii. The resource family parent shall provide each child in placement with adequate privacy for telephone calls to and from the worker and law guardian, but the resource family parent may locate the telephone in an area where the resource family parent can observe the child's reactions.

3. The resource family parent shall provide each child in placement with reasonable access to the telephone and other means of communication for communication with the child's parents.

i. The resource family parent may impose restrictions on these conversations and communications if necessary to comply with a court order or child's case plan that limits the child's contact with his or her parents.

ii. When the resource family parent imposes restrictions on a child's access to telephone conversations or other means of communication, as specified in (b)3i above, the resource family parent shall explain the nature of the restrictions to the child.

4. The resource family parent shall prohibit the use of tapes or any other mechanical or electronic listening devices to monitor the telephone calls of a child in placement.

5. The resource family parent shall provide each child in placement with adequate amounts of stamps and writing materials for corresponding with family, friends and other persons who have a positive relationship with the child.

6. If a visitor appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the resource family parent shall prohibit the individual from transporting the child in placement.

(c) The resource family parent shall provide each child in placement with reasonable access to the telephone or other means of communication to communicate with friends. The resource family parent may impose one or more of the following conditions:

1. Restricting the time and duration of telephone calls or other communications;

2. Denying the child in placement the use of the telephone or other means of communication for discipline reasons; and

3. Requesting the child in placement to identify telephone callers and those individuals with whom the child in placement communicates.

(d) If a visitor appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the resource family parent:

1. May restrict the individual from visiting; and

2. Shall immediately contact the Division or the State Central Registry when the Division's local office is closed.

(e) The resource family parent shall request that the child in placement open parcels or letters in the presence of the resource family parent upon suspicion that the contents contain contraband. If the child refuses to comply with this request, the resource family parent shall inform the child's worker.

(f) The resource family parent shall permit a child in placement to visit his or her Division worker and law guardian or law guardian investigator, as applicable, upon request.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:51-6.2

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a. Amended by 49 N.J.R. 2792(a), effective 8/21/2017 Amended by 51 N.J.R. 1263(b), effective 8/5/2019