Louisiana Children's Code Tit. X, Art. 1036.2. Incarcerated parent; duties; assessment

A. An incarcerated parent of a child in the custody of the department shall provide a reasonable plan for the appropriate care of his child other than foster care. Failure by the incarcerated parent to provide an appropriate plan may result in an action to terminate his parental rights.

B. Within thirty days of notification that a parent of a child in foster care is incarcerated in this state, a representative of the department shall visit the incarcerated parent and give written notification to the incarcerated parent of his duty to provide a reasonable plan for the appropriate care of the child. The department, at that time, shall obtain information regarding the plan, including the names, addresses, cellular numbers, telephone numbers, and other contact information of every potential suitable alternative caregiver.

C. The incarcerated parent shall provide the department with the required information in writing within sixty days of receipt of the notification form. During that period, a parent may submit additional information or names of other caregivers using the form attached to the notice. The department shall provide the parent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope for this purpose. No additional caregiver names will be accepted after the expiration of the sixty-day period, as evidenced by a postmark.

D. The department shall conduct an assessment of the persons named as caregivers by the incarcerated parent and shall notify the parent within ten days of completion of the assessment whether the persons named are willing and able to offer a wholesome and stable environment for the child.

E. The notification form given to the incarcerated parent shall be substantially as follows:

NOTICE OF DUTY TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE PLAN FOR THE

APPROPRIATE CARE OF YOUR CHILD AND TERMINATION OF

PARENTAL RIGHTS LAW

NOTICE TO PARENT: YOUR CHILD(REN),________________________________________________

HAS/HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE CUSTODY OF THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES BY ORDER OF THE ___________________________________ Parish juvenile court ______________________________ on ______________________________.

PLEASE BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING:

Louisiana law provides that you may name a person who is willing and able to serve as the custodian of your child(ren) and to offer a wholesome and stable environment for your child(ren). Failure to furnish a reasonable plan for the appropriate care of your child(ren) may result in the termination of your parental rights.

Please refer to Louisiana Children's Code, Title X, Articles 1001 to 1043, especially Articles 1015(6) and 1036(E), for the details of Louisiana law regarding the termination of parental rights. A copy of the law is attached to this notice.

You are hereby notified that Louisiana law requires that you provide a reasonable plan for the appropriate care of your child(ren), other than continued foster care, within sixty (60) days of your receipt of this notice, which date is _____________________________________________. Your plan shall include the names, addresses, cellular numbers, telephone numbers, and other contact information of every suitable alternative caregiver. You may provide additional information by filling out this form and mailing it in the stamped, self-addressed envelope given to you by the department before _____________________________________________. If you fail or refuse to do so, you may lose all rights to your child(ren). Your plan will be examined to determine if it is reasonable and appropriate. Please provide your plan in detail no later than _______________________________________________________ to the following person:

Copy of the law, La. Ch.C. Arts. 1001--1043, Attached. PLEASE READ.

I, ____________________________________________________________, hereby certify that a copy of this notice with La. Ch.C. Arts. 1001-1043 attached, was delivered to ________________________________________ on __________________________________________________ by personal delivery at the following location ________________________________________.

I, ____________________________________________________________, have received a copy of this notice, together with the attached laws (La. Ch.C. Arts. 1001-1043), and acknowledge that I understand fully that my rights may be terminated and my child(ren) adopted by others if I do not provide a reasonable plan of appropriate care while I am incarcerated, other than continued foster care, within sixty (60) days of my receipt of this notice on ________________________________________.