OAR 413-070-0536: Consideration of APPLA as a Permanency Plan

(1) Department consideration of APPLA as a permanency plan must be based on the individual safety, permanency, and well-being needs of a child who has reached the age of 16 or young adult. The age or disability of a child or young adult is never a disqualifier for a more preferred permanency plan. (2) The Department may only consider APPLA as a permanency plan for a child who has reached the age of 16 or young adult only if the Department has determined it is not in the best interests of the child or young adult to implement one of the following preferred permanency plans: (a) Placement with a parent; (b) Placement in an adoptive home; (c) Placement with a legal guardian; or (d) Placement with a fit and willing relative. (3) Prior to consideration of a foster parent as the APPLA resource, the caseworker and his or her supervisor must: (a) Review the diligent efforts of the Department to place a child or young adult with relatives and to place siblings together as required under OAR 413-070-0060 to 413-070-0087. (b) Confirm there are no current Department actions to identify or assess a relative of a child or young adult who has expressed an interest in being a permanency resource.