What should be included in a child’s case plan?

• A. Assessment of needs, safety goals, planned services, responsible parties, and timelines toward permanency.
• B. Records are confidential and may be disclosed only to authorized individuals or entities as permitted by law or court order.
• C. DFPS’s role in monitoring an LCPAA: Conduct licensing inspections, review compliance, and investigate complaints; ensure alignment with statutes and contracts.
• D. An approach that recognizes trauma's impact and avoids re-traumatization, guiding safety, interactions, and service delivery to support recovery.

Answer: (A)

A child’s case plan is a practical, action‑oriented document that translates the child’s assessed needs and safety considerations into a concrete path forward. It should state the assessed needs, safety goals, the services that will address those needs, who is responsible for each action, and the timelines toward achieving permanency. This structure creates clear expectations, assigns accountability, and provides measurable milestones and review dates to track progress toward reunification, adoption, guardianship, or another permanent arrangement. While confidentiality, agency oversight, and a trauma‑informed approach are all important elements of the broader child welfare process, they are not the specific items listed in the plan itself; the plan’s core content is the needs, safety goals, services, responsibilities, and timeframes guiding permanency.