§ 31-34-19-7 — Placement of child; relative; evaluation; background checks

(a) In addition to the factors under section 6
of this chapter, if the court enters a dispositional decree regarding a
child in need of services that includes an out-of-home placement, the
court shall:
(1) order the department to continue exercising due diligence to
identify all adult relatives of the child and adult siblings who may
be considered as out-of-home placements for the child until the
child has been in an out-of-home placement for at least twelve
(12) months; and
(2) consider whether the child should be placed with the child's
suitable and willing relative before considering other out-of-home
placements for the child.
(b) A juvenile court shall consider placing a child described in
subsection (a) with a relative related by blood, marriage, or adoption
before considering any other placement of the child.
(c) Before a child is placed with a relative or de facto custodian, a
home evaluation and background checks described in IC 31-34-4-2 are
required.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-15.3(f).]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.70-2004, SEC.20; P.L.234-2005, SEC.182; P.L.123-2014, SEC.23; P.L.210-2019, SEC.11.