Relative Search 624-05-15-50-22

(Revised 2/1/24 ML #3792)

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When a public agency (Human Service Zone, DJS, or Tribe) becomes the court ordered custodian of a child placed in foster care; the agency must identify and notify the child’s relatives.

 

Federal law under title IV-E of the Social Security Act requires public agencies to consider relatives of the child for placement preference while the child is in foster care, provided that the relative caregiver meets relevant standards. Relative placement promotes timely reunification and placement stability, as children placed with relative’s experience fewer placement disruptions than children placed with non-related foster care providers. Preserving the child’s existing connections and relationships to familiar adults can be achieved by engaging in relative placements.

 

Upon removal from the primary caregiver, a relative search must be initiated for each child within 30 days of the removal. The relative search can be conducted through discussion with the family, child, or the use of two approved search options (Federal Parent Locator Services and SENECA). Costs associated with relative searches are paid for by the Department through the Children & Family Services Division.

 

The custodial agency is required to:

1. Conduct a relative search for both the paternal and maternal families;
2. Conduct a reasonable and comprehensive search until a fit and willing relative is identified. If a relative is not identified, diligent search efforts must continue for the life of the case, or until the permanency option has been identified and that option is being actively engaged in establishing the agreed upon permanency.
3. Notify relatives of the need to locate a temporary placement to care for the child. If a relative is willing and available, consider placement without delay;
4. Inform the court that the agency has made reasonable efforts to prevent placement by securing relative care;
5. Continue to contact and consider a relative as a placement resource for subsequent future placement needs, even if the relative declined to care for the child at the time of removal;
6. Provide notice to relatives when preparing for the permanency hearing or in anticipation of filing a Termination of Parental Rights;
7. Document relative search efforts; and
8. If applicable, continue to search for and contact relatives as an ongoing process throughout the life of the case. Foster care case workers should be contacting relative resources to explore their ability to either be a placement resource or ongoing emotional support for the child through letters and phone calls in efforts to maintain family connections while in foster care.

When Parents Object to a Relative Search

The case worker must consider the request of a parent to not contact specific relatives. If a child’s parent objects to the search for relatives, the agency must evaluate and address the parents’ concerns by considering:

1. The child's and the parents’ preferences about relatives and the reasons for those preferences;
2. The child’s current relationships with relatives and impact of such placement versus placement with a foster family the child does not know;
3. Whether there are other relatives who may be contacted;
4. Whether any relatives have offered to care for the child;
5. Whether placement with relatives would interfere with the parents’ ability to follow a case plan goals and tasks; or
6. If ICWA applies, the Tribe's position on contacting relatives.

When parent(s) object to the search for relatives, case workers must document details why the parent(s) have concerns and consider the individual circumstances. If objection continues, the agency must notify the court of the parents’ request and the court can determine whether the request is in the child’s best interest. Case workers must consult with supervision and the local state’s attorney if it is contrary to the welfare for the child to return to the parent(s) and the parent(s) continue to object to relative engagement.

 

Federal Parent Locator Services: If the location of the absent parent is unknown, the results, or the status of a search through the Federal Parent Locator Services (FPLS*) – Child Support must also be initiated. See 624-05-15-41 for FPLS process. If appropriate, efforts to locate and/or contact the absent parent should be made initially and no greater than 30 days after removal. Absent parent searches should take place prior to key decision points in the life of a case and continue no less than once every three months.

 

In order to initiate a Federal Parent Locator search, the foster care case worker collects and must e-mail pertinent information regarding the family to the Field Service Specialist. The information should be as complete as possible to enable a comprehensive search.

 

SENECA:

The child’s case worker researches and collects pertinent information regarding the family to enable a comprehensive search.

 

The following is a sample of the type of information required.

Child: Name (including middle name if known), any known aliases, date of birth, social security number, address or last known address.

 

Father: Name, including middle name if known, AKA, date of birth, social security number, occupation, last known address.

 

Mother: Name, including middle & maiden name if known, AKA, date of birth, social security number, occupation, last known address.

 

Add to this anything significant you determine may assist in locating relatives.

 

The foster care case worker must enter the information into the SENECA search site at https://online.senecacenter.org//www/public/familyfinding/requestform.aspx

 

Responsibility of Relative Search:

 

Case Worker:

• Collect relevant information and e-mail SFN 1944 for FPLS to the Field Service Specialist in a timely manner.
• Request relative search from SENECA website.
• Upon receipt of the search information.
  • Contact relatives identified and
  • Document findings in the data management system "relative search" field, include details specifying why a relative was ruled out in the comments box or in case activity logs.
• If results do not present immediate relative engagement, continue to gather and seek information to maintain family connections for the child ongoing at least every 3 months.

Children and Family Services - Field Service Specialist:

• Receive the SFN 1944 detailing the child's specific relative information from the case worker.
• Forward the child’s relative information to FPLS in a timely manner.
• Upon receipt of the child’s FPLS relative search information, provide the details to the case worker in a timely manner.

Children and Family Services - Administrative Support:

• Authorize payment to SENECA upon completion of the search and billing received.