Floyd County DSS introduces time‑limited parental child safety placement agreement to reduce foster placements

Floyd County Department of Social Services staff briefed the Board of Supervisors on a new state‑mandated parental child safety placement agreement (PSPA) that local agencies will use to place children temporarily with relatives or vetted caregivers while parents receive time‑limited services to resolve safety concerns.

Rebecca Duncan, child‑protective‑services supervisor, told supervisors the PSPA is an effort to standardize diversion and reduce prolonged in‑home investigations that can “drag on” and sometimes lead to unnecessary foster placements. Under the program, eligible families will enter a voluntary out‑of‑home placement agreement for up to 90 days, with the option to extend once (to a total of 180 days) if parents make progress in court‑recommended or CPS‑referred services.

Duncan outlined the case flow she told the board staff will use. After an initial safety assessment determines that a child cannot safely remain in the home, staff may arrange an interim safety plan for up to seven days while identifying an approved relative or kin caregiver. The worker runs criminal‑history and CPS checks and uses a permanency assessment tool to evaluate the caregiver’s ability to supervise and maintain the child for the anticipated interval. Supervisors and CPS staff then hold a 24‑hour out‑of‑home placement staffing and schedule a family partnership meeting within the first week; that staffing and meeting determine whether to formalize a PSPA and open a CPS in‑home case.

If a PSPA is signed, the in‑home case worker must prepare a service plan (Duncan said that typically occurs within 30 days). Scheduled periodic reviews (discussed in the presentation as 60‑day and 150‑day family partnership meetings) assess whether the placement should be extended and whether the child can safely return home. The PSPA is explicitly designed to avoid premature case closure and to promote accountability with regular, documented reviews.

Why this matters: DSS staff said the PSPA is meant to reduce the number of children entering foster care by using short, structured out‑of‑home placements while parents complete services. Supervisors heard that the program requires additional staff time for meetings and checks but could reduce long‑term costs associated with foster placements.

Who spoke: Rebecca Duncan (Floyd County CPS supervisor) and Chad (Department director) briefed the board; the board took no formal vote on the policy briefing.

Details to watch: The PSPA requires time‑bound documentation (initial safety plan up to 7 days; 90‑day PSPA with a possible single 90‑day extension). DSS staff said PSPA eligibility requires an open family assessment or investigation and parental agreement to participate in an in‑home CPS service plan.