If grandparents are not available or are not able to care for their grandchild, Section 210.565, RSMo states other relatives should be given first preference and first consideration over non-related resource providers, if the court has determined relative placement is not contrary to the best interests of the child. Staff should also document their efforts to locate relatives in their case narrative in FACES. The court of jurisdiction must make specific findings on the record detailing why placement with a relative is not in the best interests of the child. If a child is not placed with a relative, staff must document in FACES why placement with relatives was not in the best interest of the child.

As used in this section, the term “relative” means a person related to another by blood or affinity within the third degree or has a close relationship with the child and/or the family.   Relatives within the 3^rd degree have preference for placement over others who are not as closely related.

The age of the child’s relative shall not be the sole factor that Children’s Division takes into consideration when it makes placement decisions and recommendations to the court about placing the child with such relative.

After identifying a potential relative care provider, the Children’s Division Worker should ask the family to describe the relationship with that individual/family, to include the following:

• Provider’s relationship to the foster youth and length of involvement with the family
• Description of the provider’s involvement with the family, i.e., provided care for the foster youth and/or parent, assisted the family through crisis, provided moral support, member of church or community organization, neighbor, etc.
• Whether the provider ever resided in the home with the parent or foster youth and, if so, how long and when

The parent of the foster youth shall not live in the relative foster family home with the foster youth with the exception of those parents of foster youth who are also in the legal custody of the Children’s Division (CYAC), unless ordered by the court. If a court orders that a parent of the foster youth may remain in the resource home, the parent of the foster youth shall be in compliance with 211.038 RSMo background check results.

The resource home will not be eligible for maintenance payments if the foster youth’s parent(s) reside in the resource home. If the resource home was not previously licensed, they will not be eligible for licensure if the foster youth’s parent(s) resides in the resource home.

Steps for Placing a Child in a Relative Home – see Section 6.

Related Practice Alerts and Memos:

1-3-20 – PA20-RD-01 – Relative Resource Placement Consideration

1-15-19 – https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cd19-01.pdf

6-11-20 – CD20-23 – Update on Placement Hierarchy and Diligent Searches