[ECDGA]

Hi! I know I have read about concurrent planning on here somewhere but can't seem to remember what it is. We have had our fs for 18 months and at our last hearing in Jan. they said they would give the parents 6 more months to make significant progress or they would move to tpr. When we received our copy of the caseplan after the hearing the box for ru with suitable family member was checked in addition to concurrent planning. The concurrent planning box has never been checked before and I am wondering the significance of this. At the last hearing the master told Children and Youth that she didn't understand why they weren't filing tpr on that day and that the mother should not be considered a source any longer. That still leaves Dad. We are hoping that he gets motivated but we are starting to lose faith. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

Karen

[wind]

Concurrent planning means that the case plan goal is two things at once. First, it is reunification. Second, it is a definition of what is to happen should reunification not take place. There should be active work on the second part of this even as services are being referred to work towards reunification. This is an area for the CPS caseworker, not the Family Specialist. I would advise talking with the Court appointed CASA, if there is one. Every child in Arizona has a GAL. The GAL should be able to better define for you what is happening. Keep in mind that the process leading to Severance can be a very lengthy one. You may also want to contact The Office of the Legal Advocate.

[craftingmama]

i don't understand why they are giving more time! In our state if the child has been in care for 15 or the past 22 months, they can be legally freed for adoption. why drag it out and hte child into limbo even longer.

[AZInsider]

In AZ if they have been in care for 15 of the last 22 months they have to START moving towards severance. It doesn't just happen at 15 months and 1 day. But that's when they have to really start looking at a concurrent plan of severance, start scheduling court dates, looking for adoptive resources, etc.

As frustrating as it is, severing a parent's rights forever is a huge deal, it's not something anyone wants to enter into lightly which is why it takes time, why they will still offer the option for reunification right up until the severance hearing. And even then, birth parents can appeal the severance for a certain period of time.

But as for the original question, Wind is correct, concurrent planning just means they now have Plan A and Plan B in the works. If Plan A doesn't come to fruition then they've already been working towards Plan B and can move forward with that option instead.