KRS 199.801: Procedure for placement of children who are in custody of department --

State-level and regional placement coordinators -- Type of placement -- Cases

of unmet need -- Recruitment and reporting.

(1) The department shall establish a procedu re throughout the state that is designed to

determine and expedite the placement of children who are in the custody of or

committed to the department. The procedure shall utilize state -level and regional

placement coordinators who may be state employees or employees of a contracted

entity.

(2) The type of placement selected for a child in the custody of or committed to the

department shall be the best alternative for the child that is in closest proximity to

the child's home county, including considerations of the child's current early care

and education provider or school, in order to promote educational stability for the

child to the extent practicable in accordance with KRS 199.802 and the federal

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-95.

(3) If the type of placement that best suits the child's needs is not available in the child's

home county, the regional placement coordinator shall document the circumstance

as an unmet need and may seek a placement in surrounding counties, regions, and

the state, in that order.

(4) If the type of placement that best suits the child's needs is not available within the

state, the regional placement coordinator shall contact the commissioner of the

department or the commissioner's designee to explore out-of-state placement.

(5) The department shall develop a diligent recruitment plan and reporting to support

the recruitment and retention of family foster homes that are responsive to the needs

of children in care, areas of unmet need, and strategies to meet the need. The plan

and reporting shall be used as a guide in the establishment and modification of

agreements with placements for the care of children in the custody of or committed

to the cabinet and shall be made available upon request.

(6) The department shall ensure that placement provisions exist to ensure that:

(a) Safe and adequate foster care placements designed to meet the individual

needs of all children, including in prevention, safety, ongoing, and adoptive

services are occurring; and

(b) Placements are the least restrictive, most family -like setting consistent with

the child's specific individual needs.