§ 31-26-5-3 — Duties of family preservation services

(a) Family preservation services may provide:
(1) comprehensive, coordinated, flexible, and accessible services;
(2) intervention as early as possible with emphasis on establishing
a safe and nurturing environment;
(3) services to families who have members placed in care settings
outside the nuclear family; and
(4) planning options for temporary placement outside the family
if it would endanger the child to remain in the home.
(b) Unless authorized by a juvenile court, family preservation
services may not include a temporary out-of-home placement if a
person who is currently residing in the location designated as the
out-of-home placement has committed an act resulting in a
substantiated report of child abuse or neglect or has a juvenile
adjudication or a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in
IC 31-9-2-84.8.
(c) Before placing a child at imminent risk of placement in a
temporary out-of-home placement, the department shall conduct a
criminal history check (as defined in IC 31-9-2-22.5) for each person
described in subsection (b). However, the department is not required
to conduct a criminal history check under this section if the temporary
out-of-home placement is made to an entity or facility that is not a
residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-90) or that is licensed by the state.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.145-2006, SEC.272. Amended by P.L.183-2017, SEC.12; P.L.186-2025, SEC.158.