What is the purpose of a service plan for a placed child?

• A. To determine foster home payment schedules.
• B. To document goals, services, progress, and timelines to support the child’s safety and well-being.
• C. To record financial transactions.
• D. To evaluate the agency's staff performance.

Answer: (B)

The essential idea here is that a service plan for a placed child is a written roadmap that specifies the child’s goals, the services to meet those goals, how progress will be measured, and the timelines for achieving milestones. It brings together the child, foster family, and professionals to ensure everyone understands who does what, by when, and how progress will be tracked, all with the aim of keeping the child safe and helping them thrive. This makes it a practical tool for coordinating care, monitoring improvements, and making necessary adjustments.

Financial matters like foster home payment schedules or recording financial transactions are separate administrative tasks focused on money, not the child’s safety and development. Evaluating the agency’s staff performance is an internal management activity, not the purpose of the plan designed for the child’s needs and well-being.