Placement & Extended Foster Care

The Probation Department is authorized to place juveniles in foster and group homes when it is ordered by the Court. Placement can arise once the juvenile has been adjudicated for committing a crime. If the Court determines the minor's needs could not be met in the home, the Probation Department then has the responsibility for placing the juvenile in a home where the needs can be met. The ultimate goal is to reunify the family.

At the time the placement is ordered, the Deputy Probation Officer preparing the recommendation will create a case plan which describes the minor's needs and how the needs will be met. The case plan will be reviewed with the juvenile and the parent/guardian and filed with the court. The case plan will then be reviewed, at a minimum, of every 6 months.

Much like Child Welfare foster placements, the Deputy Probation Officer is required to visit the juvenile at least monthly in their placement. Additionally, the Officer will have monthly contact with the parent/guardian. The child's case is reviewed by the Court every 6 months, and the juvenile and the parent/guardian are required to attend the hearing.

Unfortunately, there are few local placements available. As a result, those juveniles ordered to placement are usually sent to a home in another county. The relatives of the juvenile are allowed to visit the minor at the placement and if the minor has followed program rules and the home is suitable, they will be allowed periodic home passes to visit with relatives.

If your child is in placement, contact the Deputy Probation Officer assigned to placement to discuss any issues related to your child.

Extended Foster Care

For youth who are in placement at the age of 17 years, 4 months, and they meet their case plan goals, they are entitled to participate in the Extended Foster Care program until the age of 21. This program assists the young adult in finding housing and services to help them be successful in adulthood. In order to stay in the program, the young adult must either attend high school, college, be employed at least 80 hours per month, be in a program to eliminate the barriers to employment, or have a debilitating disability.

At the time the person enters Extended Foster Care, they are no longer on probation, but they are still required to meet with the Deputy Probation Officer assigned to placement. Additionally, the Court continues to review the progress every 6 months until the person reaches 21 years of age.