New Mexico Register / Volume XXXII, Issue 5 / March 9, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Protective Services Division (PSD) of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) will hold a public hearing via zoom link on Friday, April 9th, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to take comments regarding the proposed changes to 8.8.2 NMAC, 8.10.2 NMAC, 8.10.3 NMAC, 8.10.7 NMAC, 8.10.8 NMAC, and 8.26.2 NMAC.

Proposed changes are the following:

8.8.2 NMAC Protective Services General Provision:

· “Foster Parent,” “Foster Family,” and “Foster Care Provider” terminology changed to “Resource parent,” “Resource family”

· Gender neutral and non-discrimination language updates

· Supervision Framework Model section and corresponding definitions addition

8.10.2 NMAC Intake:

· Safety Organized Practice definitions and language alignment with new safety tool implemented in May 2019.

· Gender neutral and non-discrimination language updates

· New Program: Differential Response additions (Resource Family Connections Program)

· New Program: REACH New Mexico Program additions

8.10.3 NMAC Investigations:

· Safety Organized Practice definitions and language alignment with new safety tool implemented in May 2019.

· Gender neutral and non-discrimination language updates

· Comprehensive Addictions Recovery Act (CARA) alignment

8.10.7 NMAC Legal Services:

· Gender neutral and non-discrimination language updates

· Consular Notification and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status updates

8.10.8 NMAC Permanency Planning:

· “Foster Parent,” “Foster Family,” and “Foster Care Provider” terminology changed to “Resource parent,” “Resource family”

· Safety Organized Practice definitions and language alignment with new safety tool implemented in May 2019.

· Removal of Concurrent Planning

· Gender neutral and non-discrimination language updates

· Immigration considerations updated

· Home schooling guidance removed

· Youth Grievance addition

8.26.2 NMAC Placement Services:

· “Foster Parent,” “Foster Family,” and “Foster Care Provider” terminology changed to “Resource parent,” “Resource family”

· Gender neutral and non-discrimination language updates

· Removal of Concurrent Planning

· Removal of Medical and Educational sections as it is a duplication from Permanency Planning Policy

· Resource Family Grievance statement added

A free electronic copy of the proposed changes can be found at https://cyfd.org/for-providers/rfp and on the sunshine portal. Due to COVID, physical copies will not be distributed or offered.

Zoom link for the public hearing is available upon request. All requests must be sent to Serra Dittel-Payne, PSD Policy and Procedure Coordinator at Serra.Dittel-Payne@state.nm.us or call 505-412-9597.

Written comments can be provided via e-mail to Serra Dittel-Payne at Serra.Dittel-Payne@state.nm.us or by mail to CYFD, Serra Dittel-Payne, Protective Services Division, PO Drawer 5160, Santa Fe, NM 87502. All written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9th, 2021. Written comments provided carry the same weight as comments received during the public hearings.

Subsection D of Section 9-2A-7 NMSA 1978 states, “The secretary may make and adopt such reasonable and procedural rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the department and its divisions” which provides the authority authorizing the proposed rule and the adoption of the proposed rule.

The PERA building is accessible to people with disabilities. Documents can be available in different formats to accommodate a particular disability upon request by calling 505-827-8400. If assistance is required to attend the hearing, please call 505-827-8400 to arrange accommodation.