FAMILY COURT HAS THE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATENESS OF A CHILD’S PLACEMENT IN A QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM (QRTP) AT EVERY PERMANENCY HEARING (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, applying an exception to the mootness doctrine (appellate relief had already been granted), determined Family Court has the decision-making authority to determine the appropriateness of a child’s placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) at every permanency hearing:
… [W]e find that Family Court has the decision-making authority as to the appropriateness of the child’s continued placement in a QRTP at every permanency hearing (see Family Ct Act §§ 1088[b], 1089[d][2][viii]). A contrary reading goes against the express purpose of the Family First Act, which is aimed at reducing the use of institutional group placements for children in foster care by limiting the length of time that they can spend there. The Family First Act, codified in New York State through amendments to the relevant provisions in the Family Court Act and Social Services Law, explicitly seeks to “ensure[] more foster children are placed with families by limiting federal reimbursement to only congregate care placements that are demonstrated to be the most appropriate for a child’s needs, subject to ongoing judicial review ” … . Matter of Malachi B. (Tania H.), 2024 NY Slip Op 03534, First Dept 6-27-24
Practice Point: Family Court has the authority to review and decide the appropriateness of a child’s placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) at every permanency hearing.