Section 315.220  Substitute Care Pending Court Determination on Termination of Parental Rights

a)         Description

            The minor will be in substitute care pending a court's determination on termination of the parental rights of the minor's parents.

b)         Criteria for Selection

            Substitute care pending court determination on termination of parental rights may be selected as a permanency goal when a decision has been made to pursue termination of parental rights. This goal must be established when:

1)         A request for termination of parental rights has been filed with the court; or

2)         The goal has been set by the court; or

3)         The case successfully passes a legal screening conducted by the Department to determine whether sufficient grounds for termination of parental rights exist and whether it is in the best interest of the child to empower the guardian to consent to adoption; or

4)         A State's Attorney decides that sufficient grounds for termination of parental rights exist and that it is in the best interest of the child to empower the guardian to consent to adoption.

c)         This goal may be selected when termination of parental rights is in the child's best interests because of safety concerns, even if the child may not be adopted.

d)         If the court grants termination of parental rights, this goal shall be changed to the appropriate goal, as directed by the court and further services directed toward family reunification will not be offered.