Senate File 2165 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY KREIMAN
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for the usage of family team meetings prior to
2 the out=of=home placement of a child under a child in need of
3 assistance proceeding.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 5963XS 81
6 jp/je/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 232.102, subsection 10, paragraph a,
1 2 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2005, is amended to read as
1 3 follows:
1 4 As used in this division, "reasonable efforts" means the
1 5 efforts made to preserve and unify a family prior to the out=
1 6 of=home placement of a child in foster care or to eliminate
1 7 the need for removal of the child or make it possible for the
1 8 child to safely return to the family's home. If returning the
1 9 child to the family's home is not appropriate or not possible,
1 10 reasonable efforts shall include the efforts made in a timely
1 11 manner to finalize a permanency plan for the child. A child's
1 12 health and safety shall be the paramount concern in making
1 13 reasonable efforts. Reasonable efforts made prior to the out=
1 14 of=home placement of a child shall include family team
1 15 meetings and may include intensive family preservation
1 16 services or family=centered services, if the child's safety in
1 17 the home can be maintained during the time period the family
1 18 team meetings or provision of services are provided utilized.
1 19 In determining whether reasonable efforts have been made, the
1 20 court shall consider both of the following:
1 21 Sec. 2. Section 232.102, subsection 10, paragraph b, Code
1 22 2005, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
1 23 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (1A) "Family team meeting" means a
1 24 process of working with the family of a child who is or may be
1 25 subject to a child in need of assistance proceeding in order
1 26 to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from
1 27 the home. In addition to the child, family members of the
1 28 child, and staff persons or other designees of the department,
1 29 a family team meeting may include others who are involved with
1 30 or provide support for the child's family.
1 31 EXPLANATION
1 32 This bill provides for the usage of family team meetings
1 33 prior to the out=of=home placement of a child under a child in
1 34 need of assistance proceeding. The bill amends Code section
1 35 232.102, providing for disposition of a child adjudicated as a
2 1 child in need of assistance. The bill requires the usage of
2 2 family team meetings provided the child's safety in the home
2 3 can be maintained during the time period the usage of family
2 4 team meetings is utilized. The bill makes the usage of family
2 5 team meetings a part of reasonable efforts made to preserve
2 6 and unify a family prior to the out=of=home placement of a
2 7 child in foster care or to eliminate the need for removal of
2 8 the child or make it possible for the child to safely return
2 9 to the family's home.
2 10 The term "family team meeting" is defined as a process of
2 11 working with the family of a child who is or may be subject to
2 12 a child in need of assistance proceeding in order to prevent
2 13 or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the home.
2 14 In addition to the child, family members of the child, and
2 15 staff persons or other designees of the department, a family
2 16 team meeting may include others who are involved with or
2 17 provide support for the child's family.
2 18 LSB 5963XS 81
2 19 jp:nh/je/5