Sec. 7. (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).]

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.