Sec. 5.5. (a) In determining the extent to which reasonable efforts to reunify or preserve a family are appropriate under this chapter, the child's health and safety are of paramount concern.
(b) Except as provided in section 5.6 of this chapter, the department shall make reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify families as follows:
(1) If a child has not been removed from the child's home, to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the child's home.
(2) If a child has been removed from the child's home, to make it possible for the child to return safely to the child's home as soon as possible.
(c) The department may, before reunification of the child with a parent, guardian, or custodian, conduct a criminal history check (as defined in IC 31-9-2-22.5) of:
(1) the child's:
(A) parent;
(B) guardian; or
(C) custodian; or
(2) a household member of the:
(A) parent;
(B) guardian; or
(C) custodian.
(d) The department may use the results of a criminal history check conducted under subsection (c) to decide whether it is safe for the child to return home.
As added by P.L.35-1998, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.1-1999, SEC.62; P.L.145-2006, SEC.319; P.L.48-2012, SEC.64.
Structure Indiana Code
Title 31. Family Law and Juvenile Law
Article 34. Juvenile Law: Children in Need of Services
Chapter 21. Review of Dispositional Decrees; Formal Review Hearings
31-34-21-0.1. Application of Certain Amendments to Chapter
31-34-21-1. Progress Reports; Procedure for Modification of Decree
31-34-21-2. Periodic Case Review
31-34-21-3. Progress Report Required Before Case Review
31-34-21-4. Notice of Case Review; Testimony in Periodic Case Review
31-34-21-4.5. Petition to Request Intervention
31-34-21-5. Determination; Findings
31-34-21-5.5. Reasonable Efforts to Preserve and Reunify Families
31-34-21-5.6. Exceptions to Requirement to Make Reasonable Efforts to Preserve and Reunify Families
31-34-21-5.7. Permanency Plan; Requirement; Approval; Reports and Orders Not Required
31-34-21-7. Permanency Hearing
31-34-21-7.3. Internet Posting of Nonidentifying Information
31-34-21-7.6. Documents Provided to Individual Leaving Foster Care
31-34-21-8. Progress Report Required Before Formal Hearing