Who must plan a child's non-emergency discharge or transfer?

• A. At least one of the child's current caregivers and at least one professional service provider involved in the child's service planning
• B. Only the parent
• C. Only the child
• D. The board of directors

Answer: (A)

Discharge planning for a non-emergency transfer is most effective when it is a collaborative effort between the people who are closest to the child in daily life and the professionals who plan and coordinate the child’s services. In practice, this means including at least one of the child’s current caregivers and at least one professional service provider involved in the child’s service planning. Their joint involvement ensures that all needs—medical, educational, behavioral, safety, and housing or transportation logistics—are considered, that the plan reflects the family’s preferences, and that clear responsibilities and timelines are set so the transition is smooth and well coordinated. Relying on a single parent or the child alone typically lacks the professional coordination needed for a safe, effective transfer, and the board of directors is not usually involved in individual discharge planning.