1. (a) In addition to providing the court with a recommendation for the care, treatment, or rehabilitation of the child, the person preparing the report shall consider the necessity, nature, and extent of the participation by a parent, guardian, or custodian in a program of care, treatment, or rehabilitation for the child.

2. (b) If the department or caseworker believes that an out-of-home placement would be appropriate for a child in need of services, the department or caseworker shall:

   1. (1) exercise due diligence to identify all adult relatives of the child and adult siblings; and
   2. (2) consider whether the child should be placed with the child's suitable and willing blood or adoptive relative caretaker, including a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, or an adult sibling, before considering other out-of-home placements for the child.

3. (c) In considering any out-of-home placement, the department shall consider the following to determine whether a particular out-of-home placement is in the child's best interest:

   1. (1) The caregiver is interested in providing permanence for the child if reunification efforts ultimately fail.
   2. (2) The expressed wishes of the child's birth parent and the child, if applicable, unless the wishes are contrary to law, child safety, or stability.
   3. (3) The relationship of the caregiver with the child and the child's family.
   4. (4) The proximity of the placement home to the birth parents' home and the child's current school or school district.
   5. (5) The strengths and parenting style of the caregiver in relation to the child's behavior and needs.
   6. (6) The caregiver's willingness to interact with the birth family, unless the caregiver has safety concerns.
   7. (7) The caregiver's ability and willingness to accept placement of the child and any of the child's siblings.
   8. (8) If any sibling will be placed separately, the caregiver's ability and willingness to provide or assist in maintaining frequent visitation or other ongoing contact between the child and the child's siblings.
   9. (9) The child's fit with the family with regard to age, gender, and sibling relationships.

   10. (10) If the child has chronic behavioral health needs:

       1. (A) whether the child's behavior will place other children in the home at risk; and
       2. (B) the caregiver's ability to provide the necessary level of supervision to prevent harm to the child or others by the child.

   11. (11) Whether placement in the home would comply with the placement preferences prescribed by federal law.

       [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-15(b) part.]

As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.598; P.L.210-2019, SEC.9; P.L.116-2026, SEC.8.