INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-19-15

1.  The Child Welfare (CW) worker documents all efforts to find placement for Indian children in compliance with the order of preference as mandated by the State and Federal Indian Child Welfare Acts (ICWA) in the KIDS case on the Contacts screen.  The documentation includes:

• (1) contacts with the biological parents to identify extended family;
• (2) contacts with other relatives to locate or identify extended family; and
• (3) contacts with the tribe to locate and identify extended family.

2.  The CW worker requests written documentation from the child's tribe regarding availability or lack of placement resources and the tribe's position regarding the current placement of the child.

3.  The CW worker documents all efforts to comply with the placement preferences in the Court Report.  Any written documents from the tribe relevant to the placement of the child are attached to the Court Report.  This will assist the court in making findings regarding DHS efforts to comply with the placement preferences.