1997 Minnesota Statutes

     260.192 Dispositions; voluntary foster care placements. 

    Upon a petition for review of the foster care status of a 
 child, the court may:  

    (a) In the case of a petition required to be filed under 
 section 257.071, subdivision 3, find that the child's needs are 
 being met, that the child's placement in foster care is in the 
 best interests of the child, and that the child will be returned 
 home in the next six months, in which case the court shall 
 approve the voluntary arrangement and continue the matter for 
 six months to assure the child returns to the parent's home.  

    (b) In the case of a petition required to be filed under 
 section 257.071, subdivision 4, find that the child's needs are 
 being met and that the child's placement in foster care is in 
 the best interests of the child, in which case the court shall 
 approve the voluntary arrangement.  The court shall order the 
 social service agency responsible for the placement to bring a 
 petition under section 260.131, subdivision 1 or 1a, as 
 appropriate, within 12 months. 

    (c) Find that the child's needs are not being met, in which 
 case the court shall order the social service agency or the 
 parents to take whatever action is necessary and feasible to 
 meet the child's needs, including, when appropriate, the 
 provision by the social service agency of services to the 
 parents which would enable the child to live at home, and order 
 a disposition under section 260.191. 

    (d) Find that the child has been abandoned by parents 
 financially or emotionally, or that the developmentally disabled 
 child does not require out-of-home care because of the 
 handicapping condition, in which case the court shall order the 
 social service agency to file an appropriate petition pursuant 
 to sections 260.131, subdivision 1, or 260.231. 

    Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit 
 bringing a petition pursuant to section 260.131, subdivision 1 
 or 2, sooner than required by court order pursuant to this 
 section. 

    HIST: 1981 c 290 s 8; 1983 c 278 s 14; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 291 
 s 22; 1997 c 107 s 16; 1997 c 239 art 6 s 28