Mississippi Code
Article 1 - Administration of Child Welfare
§ 43-15-15. Registry of children in custody of State Department of Public Welfare and public or private agencies

The State Department of Public Welfare shall maintain a registry of children whose custody lies with them and private or public agencies licensed by the department. Said registry shall contain classifications of children as:
Temporary custody for evaluation, not to exceed three (3) months;
Temporary custody not to exceed one (1) year with the plan to return custody to the natural parents;
Temporary custody, not to exceed two (2) years, with a plan to free for adoption;
Children freed for adoption;
Children ages fourteen (14) and above who have voluntarily chosen not to be adopted and cannot be returned to their own homes; and
Children who are institutionalized and for whom placement in an adoptive home is not feasible.

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