§ 67-5-16 — Child protective services investigators within attorney general's office -- Authority -- Training.

(1) The attorney general may employ, with the consent of the Division of Child and Family Services within the Department of Health and Human Services, and in accordance with Section 80-2-703, child protective services investigators to investigate alleged instances of abuse or neglect of a child that occur while a child is in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services. Those investigators may also investigate reports of abuse or neglect of a child by an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services, or involving a person or entity licensed to provide substitute care for children in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services.
(2) Attorneys who represent the Division of Child and Family Services under Section 67-5-17, and child protective services investigators employed by the attorney general under Subsection (1), shall be trained on and implement into practice the following items, in order of preference and priority:

(2)(a) the priority of maintaining a child safely in the child's home, whenever possible;
(2)(b) the importance of:
(2)(b)(i) kinship placement, in the event the child is removed from the home; and
(2)(b)(ii) keeping sibling groups together, whenever practicable and in the best interests of the children;
(2)(c) the preference for kinship adoption over nonkinship adoption, if the parent-child relationship is legally terminated;
(2)(d) the potential for a guardianship placement if the parent-child relationship is legally terminated and no appropriate adoption placement is available; and
(2)(e) the use of an individualized permanency goal, only as a last resort.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 330, 2023 General Session