§ 31-25-2-7.5 — Remote child and family services

Indiana § 31-25-2-7.5

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Art. 25: CHILD SERVICES: ADMINISTRATION
• Ch. 2: General Duties of the Department of Child Services

Text

5. (a) The department shall before October 1,
2021, establish policies and procedures to allow for child and family
services to be provided remotely by October 1, 2021. Subject to
subsection (b), these policies and procedures must allow a child and
family services provider the discretion to initiate a consultation with
the department for any child and family services the provider believes
should be provided remotely. The child and family services provider
and the child's case manager may take into consideration the following
when determining whether remote child and family services are
appropriate:
(1) The child's:
(A) CANS assessment;
(B) case plan; and
(C) safety plan.
(2) The child's and family's:
(A) initial safety assessment;
(B) initial family risk assessment; and
(C) preferences regarding the manner of receiving services.
(3) Federal reimbursement requirements.
(4) Evidence based practice requirements.
(b) A child and family services provider's first meeting with a
family, or with a child who lives with the child's family, must be
conducted in person unless a declared health emergency makes an in
person meeting unsafe. After a child and family services provider's first
meeting with a family or with a child who lives with the child's family,
or for purposes of providing services to a child who does not live with
the child's family, a child and family services provider has the
discretion to provide services to the child or family remotely for up to
fourteen (14) days after the initial request for consultation if providing
services remotely is in the best interests of the child and family, unless:
(1) a decision is reached on the use of remote services at a child
and family team meeting less than fourteen (14) days after the
request for consultation; or
(2) the department communicates to the child, family, and service
provider a preliminary determination as to the role of remote
services pending the child and family team meeting.
The child and family services provider shall continue to meet with the
child and family in person at least once a week as the department
deems necessary.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.144-2021, SEC.1.