- (a) A juvenile court or the department shall consider placing a child alleged to be a child in need of services with a suitable and willing relative or de facto custodian of the child before considering any other placement for the child.
- (b) A juvenile court or the department 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.
- (d) A placement with whom a child has resided for at least twelve
(12) months, consecutively or nonconsecutively, is presumed to be an individual who has a significant relationship with the child.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-6.5(d).]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.581; P.L.123-2014, SEC.22; P.L.116-2026, SEC.7.