Pennsylvania § 7503 Family finding required

Pennsylvania Statutes

§ 7503 — Family finding required

Pennsylvania § 7503

Title 67PUBLIC WELFARE

PartPART IV

Ch. 75FAMILY FINDING AND KINSHIP CARE

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Bluebook

67 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7503 (2026).

Text

(a)General rule.--Family finding shall be conducted for a child when the child is accepted for service and at least annually thereafter until the child's involvement with the county agency is terminated or the family finding is discontinued in accordance with subsection (b).

(b)Discontinuation of family finding.--A county agency may discontinue family finding for a child under the following circumstances:

(1)The child has been adjudicated dependent under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) and a court has made a specific determination that continued family finding no longer serves the best interests of the child or is a threat to the child's safety.

(2)The child is not under the jurisdiction of a court, and the county agency has determined that continued family finding

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(a) General rule.--Family finding shall be conducted for a child when the child is accepted for service and at least annually thereafter until the child's involvement with the county agency is terminated or the family finding is discontinued in accordance with subsection (b).

(b) Discontinuation of family finding.--A county agency may discontinue family finding for a child under the following circumstances:

(1) The child has been adjudicated dependent under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) and a court has made a specific determination that continued family finding no longer serves the best interests of the child or is a threat to the child's safety.

(2) The child is not under the jurisdiction of a court, and the county agency has determined that continued family finding is a threat to the child's safety. A determination that continued family finding is a threat to the child's safety must be based on credible information about a specific safety threat, and the county agency shall document the reasons for the county agency's determination.

(3) The child is in a preadoptive placement, and court proceedings to adopt the child have been commenced under 23 Pa.C.S. Pt. III (relating to adoption).

(c) Resumption of family finding.--Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), a county agency shall resume family finding for a child if:

(1) the child is under the jurisdiction of a court and the court determines that resuming family finding is best suited to the safety, protection and physical, mental and moral welfare of the child and does not pose a threat to the child's safety; or

(2) the child is not under the jurisdiction of a court and the county agency determines that resuming family finding serves the best interests of the child and does not pose a threat to the child's safety.

(d) Documentation.--The following family finding information shall be documented in the child's case plan:

(1) The technology and processes used to identify and engage relatives and kin.

(2) The names of relatives and kin that were identified.

(3) The names of relatives and kin that were contacted.

(4) The child's input and involvement in family finding efforts.

(5) The manner and extent to which identified relatives or kin were included in the child's case plan.

(6) If applicable, the reasons for discontinuation of family finding.