The Florida Senate

39.45  Legislative intent.--

(1)  The Legislature finds that 7 out of 10 children placed in foster care do not return to their biological families after the first year and that permanent homes could be found for many of these children if their status were reviewed periodically and they were found eligible for adoption.

(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that each child be assured the care, guidance, and control in a permanent home which will serve the best interests of the child's moral, emotional, mental, and physical welfare and that such home preferably be the child's own home or, if that is not possible, an adoptive home. It is the further intent of the Legislature that, if neither of those options is achievable, other options for the child as set out in this section be pursued. When a child must be taken into foster care, it is the intent of the Legislature that the parent or guardian from whose custody the child has been taken assist the department to the fullest extent possible to locate relatives suitable to serve as caretakers for the child. It is the intent of the Legislature that permanent placement with the biological or adoptive family be achieved as soon as possible for every child in foster care and that no child remain in foster care longer than 1 year. It is the further intent of the Legislature that a child be reunited with the child's natural family whenever possible and, when not possible, that the child be permanently placed for adoption or, when neither option is achievable, that the child be prepared for alternative permanency goals or placements to include, but not be limited to, long-term foster care, independent living, custody to a relative on a permanent basis with or without legal guardianship, or custody to a foster parent on a permanent basis with or without legal guardianship. It is the intent of the Legislature, therefore, to help ensure a permanent home for a child in foster care by requiring a case plan or, if the child's natural parents will not or cannot participate in a case plan, a permanent placement plan and a periodic review and report to the court on the child's status. When two or more children in foster care are siblings, every reasonable attempt shall be made to place them in the same foster home; in the event of permanent placement of the siblings, to place them in the same adoptive home; and, if the siblings are separated, to keep them in contact with each other.

History.--s. 9, ch. 87-289; s. 24, ch. 94-164; s. 13, ch. 95-228.