A plan is just a plan until we see it working. It's a list of rules to be followed to keep the children safe and meet their needs. It includes the names and phone numbers of the people who will make sure the rules are always followed. Every plan is unique to the family situation and network. It will often include a list of triggers or red flags for network members to look for as a sign that something needs to be done to insure the children’s safety or well-being.
Once the initial plan is created everyone, including parents, network members, and any involved professionals all need to pay close attention to see if the plan’s being followed and if it’s working to keep the children safe and meet their needs. If the plan’s not being followed or not working, it doesn’t mean the plan has failed. It's a call to get the network back together as soon as possible to improve the plan until it does get followed and it does work. Many of the strongest safety plans come from the improvements that are made after what looks like an initial failure.