MS HB1558

Department of Child Protection Services must conduct a diligent search within 30 days of taking a child into custody to identify adult relatives and persons with significant relationships to the child, including absent parents, maternal and paternal relatives, fictive kin, and family friends.

Department must file an affidavit with youth court documenting search attempts within 30 days of removal and at each periodic review hearing, using interviews, database searches, Federal Parent Locator Service, and other reasonable means.

All identified relatives must receive notice of the child's removal from parental custody (subject to safety exceptions) and information about placement options, foster care licensing, and available financial assistance.

Establishes placement preference order: with a parent, kinship care with extended family or significant relationships, licensed family foster care, therapeutic foster care, group homes, and residential treatment facilities.

Department must place children in the least restrictive placement available consistent with the child's best interests, and relatives may be exempted from foster care training requirements at the court's discretion.