- The Conditions for Return describe what must exist or be different with respect to specific family circumstances, home environment, caregiver perception, behavior, capacity and/or safety service resources that would allow for reunification to occur with the use of an in-home safety plan.
- Impending danger threats do not have to be reduced or eradicated for children to be reunified with their families if an in-home safety plan can sufficiently control the threat.
- What is necessary for children to return to their families is the establishment of well-defined circumstances within a child’s home that mitigate threats to child safety.
- The basis for Conditions for Return is the In-Home Safety Analysis and Planning section of the Family Functioning Assessment and Progress Update and the five questions located there.
- Conditions for Return are the explanations of how a “No” to Safety Analysis questions can be changed to a “Yes”.
- Once all five Safety Analysis questions are answered with a “Yes” the reunification process must begin, and the child must be returned to the home with an In-Home Safety Plan.
The 5 In-Home Safety Analysis Questions
- Are the parents willing and cooperative?
- Is the home environment calm and consistent enough?
- Are sufficient safety services available?
- Can danger be managed without professional evaluations? (i.e.- psychological)
- Do parents have a residence/stable home?
- For each In-home Safety Analysis question to which you answer “No” there must be a Condition for Return. Each Condition for Return should have two parts.
- The first part (A) should begin with:
“An in-home safety plan is not possible because…” Explain why
- The second part (B) should begin with:
“In order for an in-home safety plan to be considered…” Explain what would make it safe for the child in the home specifically
- After all the Conditions for Return, the following statement should conclude this section of the assessment: “An in-home safety plan will become an option after the determination is made that the child’s safety, well-being, physical, mental and emotional health are not endangered by being placed in the home.”
The Conditions for Return must be addressed and discussed at all staffings and hearings.
