Pennsylvania Statutes Title 11 P.S. Children § 2646. County obligations

(1) Ensure that all county-operated out-of-home placement settings other than a resource family home designate an individual to provide decision-making authority under the reasonable and prudent parent standard for children residing in their care. The individual designated should consult with county agency caseworkers or staff members who are most familiar with the child in applying and using the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

(2) Ensure that contracts for purchased services between the county and a private agency that operates an out-of-home placement setting other than a resource family home include a requirement for the agency to designate an individual to provide decision-making authority under the reasonable and prudent parent standard for children residing in their care in accordance with staffing and supervision requirements applicable to the setting. The individual designated should consult with county agency and private agency caseworkers or staff members who are most familiar with the child in applying and using the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

(3) Ensure that contracts for purchased services between the county and a private agency include a requirement for the private agency to provide training and monitoring of resource families regarding the application and use of the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

(4) Provide training and monitoring of county agency resource families regarding the application and use of the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

(5) Consistent with its case and placement planning responsibilities under Federal and State law, ensure that the child's service plan provides the opportunity to participate in age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate activities and experiences to the greatest extent possible to promote healthy child and adolescent development. A child's service plan shall include goals and objectives, and the child's progress toward meeting the goals and objectives, for the following: