Even when there are safety concerns, it isn't always necessary to remove a youth from their home.

Hold youth safety meetings that include the family, other supportive people, and skilled staff. This can often identify other interventions that keep youth safe while keeping the family together.

How to do this

Hold a youth safety meeting for any safety concern. This applies ever after emergency interventions, like removing the youth.

Schedule the meeting quickly. Hold the meeting before implementing a safety intervention whenever possible. If an emergency decision was made, hold the meeting within 2 business days.

Include the right people. Bring together parents, youth (when appropriate), other supportive people, and agency staff.

Use the meeting to find alternatives. Work together to identify the least restrictive intervention that will keep the youth safe.

This strategy in action

Oklahoma holds youth safety meetings in any situation that might require a safety intervention. They include parents, youth (when appropriate), family supports, and agency staff. These meetings have helped Oklahoma serve more youth through prevention services and safely reduce the number of youth in out-of-home care.

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