Page 149
(e) A reasonable and prudent parent decision maker shall document any decision made under this section that requires written permission from the facility in lieu of the child’s parent or guardian. The completed form shall be placed in the child’s record. (3) Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard. (a) All facilities serving children placed by the Agency shall satisfy the reasonable and prudent parent standard when facilitating age- and developmentally-appropriate extracurricular, enrich- ment, cultural, and social activities for children in their care. (b) When using the reasonable and prudent parent standard, a facility shall consider: (i) the best interests of the child, based on information known by the placement; (ii) the overall health and safety of the child; (iii) the child’s age, maturity, behavioral history, and ability to participate in the proposed activity; (iv) the potential risks and the appropriateness of the proposed activity; (v) the importance of encouraging the child’s emotional and developmental growth; and (vi) any permissions or prohibitions outlined in an existing court order. (c) All facilities serving children placed by the Agency shall be permitted use of the reasonable and prudent parent standard. (d) The Agency shall not require that the facility receive official agency authorization prior to any exercise of the reasonable and prudent parent standard. (e) The Agency shall require that the facility inform agency staff during routine visits about the activities in which the foster children in their care participate. (f) If an activity involves one of the following situations, the Agency shall require reasonable notice in advance of the commencement of such an activity: (i) Out-of-state or otherwise significant travel (excluding overseas travel, which shall require agency authorization); (ii) Supervision of the child by another adult or allowance of a child to be temporarily unsupervised; (iii) Contravenes a birth family’s expressed wishes or belief system (if parental rights have not been terminated or if a relationship between the child and his or her kin still exists after termination); (iv) An important social, cultural, or religious event (e.g., baptism, confirmation, bar mitzvah, etc.); (v) Any increased level of risk to the child (whether physical or otherwise); or (vi) Any divergence from plans and/or needs previously discussed by the Agency and the foster placement. (g) Notice shall be in the form of a phone call, text message, email, letter, or in-person conversation with the child’s caseworker. (h) If one of the above activities is to take place routinely, the Agency shall (unless special circumstances exist or the situation changes) only require advance notice for the initial occurrence of the activity. (i) The facility shall seek agency authorization in situations in which the Agency or birth parent must sign or consent as the child’s legal guardian. (j) Special authorization by the Agency shall be required for applications to obtain a driver’s license for the child. (k) Nothing in this section shall give the facility the authority to change the child’s placement status, including through reunification with family members, violate the Standards of Care set forth agency policy, including those related to discipline practices; or violate or obstruct a court order or court-ordered plan. The following activities shall not constitute reasonable and prudent parenting decisions and shall require agency authorization: (i) arranging for a child’s travel outside of the United States;