MA H1885

Expands court authority to order the Department of Children and Families to place children in specific foster homes, residential programs, or placements and to specify visitation conditions with siblings, parents, guardians, and others when in the child's best interests

Allows children, parents, or guardians to challenge DCF custody decisions by petitioning the committing court for a de novo evidentiary hearing and determination

Creates new Section 25A permitting parents or children to request custody modification hearings 60 days after a care and protection petition is filed, with immediate hearing rights for those who previously waived temporary custody hearings

Permits courts to grant custody to one parent without finding the other parent unfit or adjudicating the child in need of care and protection

Allows children age 12 or older to petition to vacate parental rights termination orders after 2 years if adoption is no longer the permanency plan and they have not been adopted (or adoptive parents' rights were terminated), with the court granting the motion if vacating is in the child's best interests