1. (a) Family preservation services may provide:

   1. (1) comprehensive, coordinated, flexible, and accessible services;
   2. (2) intervention as early as possible with emphasis on establishing a safe and nurturing environment;
   3. (3) services to families who have members placed in care settings outside the nuclear family; and
   4. (4) planning options for temporary placement outside the family if it would endanger the child to remain in the home.
2. (b) Unless authorized by a juvenile court, family preservation services may not include a temporary out-of-home placement if a person who is currently residing in the location designated as the out-of-home placement has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect or has a juvenile adjudication or a conviction for a nonwaivable offense, as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-168 .
3. (c) Before placing a child at imminent risk of placement in a temporary out-of-home placement, the department shall conduct a criminal history check (as defined in IC 31-9-2.1-58 ) for each person described in subsection (b). However, the department is not required to conduct a criminal history check under this section if the temporary out-of-home placement is made to an entity or facility that is not a residence (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-90 ) or that is licensed by the state.

As added by P.L.145-2006, SEC.272. Amended by P.L.183-2017, SEC.12; P.L.186-2025, SEC.158; P.L.145-2026, SEC.172.