The Florida Senate

984.12  Case staffing; services and treatment to a family in need of services.--

(1)  The appropriate representative of the department shall request a meeting of the family and child with a case staffing committee to review the case of any family or child who the department determines is in need of services or treatment if:

(a)  The family or child is not in agreement with the services or treatment offered;

(b)  The family or child will not participate in the services or treatment selected; or

(c)  The representative of the department needs assistance in developing an appropriate plan for services. The time and place selected for the meeting shall be convenient for the child and family.

(2)  The composition of the case staffing committee shall be based on the needs of the family and child. It shall include a representative from the child's school district and a representative of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and may include a supervisor of the department's contracted provider; a representative from the area of health, mental health, substance abuse, social, or educational services; a representative of the state attorney; the alternative sanctions coordinator; and any person recommended by the child, family, or department.

(3)  The case staffing committee shall reach a timely decision to provide the child or family with needed services and treatment through the development of a plan for services.

(4)  The plan for services shall contain the following:

(a)  Statement of the problems.

(b)  Needs of the child.

(c)  Needs of the parents, guardian, or legal custodian.

(d)  Measurable objectives that address the identified problems and needs.

(e)  Services and treatment to be provided, to include:

1.  Type of services or treatment.

2.  Frequency of services or treatment.

3.  Location.

4.  Accountable service providers or staff.

(f)  Timeframes for achieving objectives.

(5)  Upon receipt of the plan, the child and family shall acknowledge their position by accepting or rejecting the services and provisions in writing. If the plan is accepted, it shall be implemented as soon as is practicable.

(6)  A case manager shall be designated by the case staffing committee to be responsible for implementing the plan. The case manager shall periodically review the progress towards achieving the objectives of the plan in order to:

(a)  Advise the case staffing committee of the need to make adjustments to the plan; or

(b)  Terminate the case as indicated by successful or substantial achievement of the objectives of the plan.

(7)  The parent, guardian, or legal custodian may convene a meeting of the case staffing committee, and any other member of the committee may convene a meeting if the member finds that doing so is in the best interest of the family or child. A case staffing committee meeting requested by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian must be convened within 7 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the date the department's representative receives the request in writing.

(8)  Within 7 days after meeting, the case staffing committee shall provide the parent, guardian, or legal custodian with a written report that details the reasons for the committee's decision to recommend, or decline to recommend, that the department file a petition alleging that the child is a child in need of services.

History.--s. 8, ch. 87-133; s. 9, ch. 91-45; s. 19, ch. 95-267; s. 9, ch. 95-280; s. 4, ch. 96-369; s. 24, ch. 96-398; s. 98, ch. 97-238; s. 7, ch. 97-281.

Note.--Former s. 39.426.