9 CAR § 40-333. Team decision making

(a) Overview. (1) Team decision making (TDM) provides a facilitated forum for families, community members, and the Division of Children and Family Services to collaboratively problem solve and make decisions regarding children’s safety and placement using the most information possible. (2) TDM has proven to be an effective intervention in ensuring that all placement decisions are a shared responsibility and in the best interest of children. (3) TDM also assists in establishing a network of support for children and the adults who care for them. (4) As such, the consistent and effective use of team decision making promotes family engagement and helps to maintain safe family relationships that are crucial to minimizing trauma to children. (b) Team decision making initiation and referral. (1) A TDM meeting is held within three (3) business days of the establishment of an immediate safety plan due to a safety threat being identified in the home and always before the case is brought to court. (2) However, a dependency-neglect petition related to an immediate safety plan may be filed with the court when necessary. (3) The immediate safety plan will be filed with the court within thirty (30) days of an initial immediate safety plan being put in place if: (A) A dependency-neglect petition was not previously filed in association with the immediate safety plan; and (B) It is assessed that: (i) A substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of the child remains; and (ii) That the immediate safety plan must stay in place to ensure the health and safety of the child. (4) TDM meeting referrals are made by the division. (5)(A) The immediate safety plan will be filed with the court within thirty (30) days of an initial immediate safety plan if: (i) A dependency-neglect petition was not previously filed in association with the immediate safety plan; and (ii) It is assessed that: (a) A substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of the child remains; and (b) The immediate safety plan must stay in place to ensure the health and safety of the child. (6) The division may waive the TDM meeting requirement for extenuating circumstances that render a TDM meeting unnecessary (such as, a permanency case is already opened, a hotline referral involving a child death with no siblings or other children under the care of the alleged offender, a Garrett’s Law referral in which the biological mother is already working with the Office of Chief Counsel to put the infant up for adoption).