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Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 4
II. GENERAL POLICY GUIDELINES .............................................................................................................. 4
A. Youth in Foster Care Who May Consent for Themselves ....................................................................... 4
B. ACS’ Authority to Consent ....................................................................................................................... 5
C. Delegation of Authority to the Foster Care Provider Agencies ............................................................... 5
D. Treatment Without Consent ................................................................................................................... 5
E. Parents Whose Rights Have Been Terminated or Surrendered .............................................................. 6
F. When Neither ACS Nor the Provider Agency is Authorized to Consent ................................................. 6
G. Provider Staff Who May Consent on ACS’ Behalf ................................................................................... 6
H. Division of Child Protection Cases Involving Sexual/Physical Abuse ...................................................... 7
I. 24-Hour Access to Someone with Authority to Provide Consent ........................................................... 7
J. Medical Authorization for Routine Treatment or Emergency Care Form .............................................. 7
K. Parental Pre-Authorization for Routine and Emergency Care ................................................................ 7
L. Principles and Guidelines for Obtaining Non-Routine Treatment Consents .......................................... 8
M. Sharing Medication Information for Children in Child Welfare Placements ........................................ 10
N. Psychiatric Hospitalization Requirements............................................................................................. 10
O. Treatment of Non-Routine Acute Illnesses ........................................................................................... 10
P. Treatment of Chronic Illnesses ............................................................................................................. 11
Q. Parental Objection to Specific Treatments ........................................................................................... 11
R. Psychiatric Treatment and Psychotropic Medication ........................................................................... 12
S. Continuity of Active Psychotropic Medication Treatment During Transitions ..................................... 14
T. Psychotropic Treatment Requirements and Waivers of Requirements ............................................... 15
U. Interviews to Determine Youth Eligibility for Programs ....................................................................... 17
V. Quality Assurance Requirements .......................................................................................................... 17
III. GUIDELINES BY TYPE OF ENTRY INTO FOSTER CARE ............................................................................ 18
A. Children Remanded or Placed in Foster Care for Child Protective Reasons ....................................... 18
B. Youth Placed with ACS in Juvenile Justice Placements Pursuant to Article 3 ..................................... 20
C. Youth Placed Through Voluntary Placement Agreements .................................................................. 20
D. Youth Placed with ACS on PINS Petitions Pursuant to Article 7 .......................................................... 21
IV. EXCEPTIONS TO AGENCY OR ACS CONSENT ........................................................................................ 22
A. Subject Children Under Family Court Act Article 10 Cases Who are Not Physically in the Custody of
ACS ....................................................................................................................................................... 22
B. Children for Whom Parental Capacity to Consent is Questioned ....................................................... 22
C Parenting Youth Cases ......................................................................................................................... 23
D. Youth Whose Capacity to Consent is Questioned ............................................................................... 23
E. Children Who are Placed With an Agency Under the Auspices of a Governmental Agency Other
Than ACS .............................................................................................................................................. 24
F. Children Who are Placed as Destitute Children .................................................................................. 24
G. Children Who Are in Foster Care but Whose Legal Status Needs Confirmation ................................. 24
H. Consent for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services........................................................................ 24
I. Testing for HIV ..................................................................................................................................... 25
J. Consent for Autopsy or Organ Donation (Anatomical Gift) ............................................................... 25
K. Religious Objections to Treatment or Immunizations ......................................................................... 25
L. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) or Withhold or Withdraw Life-Sustaining Treatment Orders ................... 25
V. ATTACHMENTS
A. FSS 007 Medical Authorization for Routine Treatment or Emergent Care (English and Spanish)
B. FSS 001 Psychotropic Medications Unit (PMU) Override Consent Request
C. FSS 010 Consent for Psychotropic Medication