210.720. Court-ordered custody--written report of status required for court review, when--permanency hearing when, purpose.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

210.720. Court-ordered custody--written report of status required for court review, when--permanency hearing when, purpose.

Court-ordered custody--written report of status required for courtreview, when--permanency hearing when, purpose.

210.720. 1. In the case of a child who has been placed in thecustody of the division of family services in accordance with subdivision(17) of subsection 1 of section 207.020, RSMo, or another authorized agencyby a court or who has been placed in foster care by a court, every sixmonths after the placement, the foster family, group home, agency, or childcare institution with which the child is placed shall file with the court awritten report on the status of the child. The court shall review thereport and shall hold a permanency hearing within twelve months of initialplacement and at least annually thereafter. The permanency hearing shallbe for the purpose of determining in accordance with the best interests ofthe child a permanent plan for the placement of the child, includingwhether or not the child should be continued in foster care or whether thechild should be returned to a parent, guardian or relative, or whether ornot proceedings should be instituted by either the juvenile officer or thedivision to terminate parental rights and legally free such child foradoption.

2. In such permanency hearings the court shall consider all relevantfactors including:

(1) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with thechild's foster parents, parents, siblings, and any other person who maysignificantly affect the child's best interests;

(2) The child's adjustment to his or her foster home, school andcommunity;

(3) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved,including any history of abuse of any individuals involved. If the childis in the care of an authorized agency based on an allegation that thechild has abused another child and the court determines that such abuseoccurred, the court shall not return the child to or permit the child toreside in any residence located within one thousand feet of the residenceof the abused child, or any child care facility or school that the abusedchild attends, until the abused child reaches eighteen years of age. Theprohibitions of this subsection shall not apply where the alleged abuseoccurred between siblings; and

(4) The needs of the child for a continuing relationship with thechild's parents and the ability and willingness of parents to activelyperform their functions as mother and father for the needs of the child.

3. The judge shall make written findings of fact and conclusions oflaw in any order pertaining to the placement of the child.