Art. 673 Case plan

When a child is placed in the custody of a child care agency, the agency has 60 days to put together a case plan. This plan lays out the steps the agency will take to find the child a permanent home, whether that means reuniting with family, placing the child with relatives, or moving toward adoption.

The most important part of this plan is the child's health, safety, and overall well-being. Every decision in the plan has to put the child's best interests first, above anything else.

This rule matters because it makes sure agencies don't let kids sit in temporary custody without a clear direction. Parents, relatives, and anyone else involved in the case can expect the agency to have a real plan in place within two months, one that focuses on getting the child into a safe and stable home as quickly as possible.