ORS 419B.449
Review hearing by court
- findings
(1)
Upon receiving any report required by ORS 419B.440 (Circumstances requiring reports), the court may hold a hearing to review the child or ward’s condition and circumstances and to determine if the court should continue jurisdiction and wardship or order modifications in the care, placement and supervision of the child or ward. The court shall hold a hearing:(a)
In all cases under ORS 419B.440 (Circumstances requiring reports) (1)(b)(B) when the parents’ rights have been terminated;(b)
If requested by the child or ward, the attorney for the child or ward, if any, the parents or the public or private agency having guardianship or legal custody of the child or ward within 30 days of receipt of the notice provided in ORS 419B.452 (Distribution of report by court);(c)
Not later than six months after receipt of a report made under ORS 419B.440 (Circumstances requiring reports) (1)(a) on a ward who is in the legal custody of the Department of Human Services pursuant to ORS 419B.337 (Commitment to custody of Department of Human Services) but who is placed in the physical custody of a parent or a person who was appointed the ward’s legal guardian prior to placement of the ward in the legal custody of the department;(d)
Within 30 days after receipt of a report made under ORS 419B.440 (Circumstances requiring reports) (1)(b)(C); or(e)
Within 10 days after receipt of a report made under ORS 419B.440 (Circumstances requiring reports) (1)(c).(2)
The court shall conduct a hearing provided in subsection (1) of this section in the manner provided in ORS 419B.310 (Conduct of hearings), except that the court may receive testimony and reports as provided in ORS 419B.325 (Disposition required). At the conclusion of the hearing, the court shall enter findings of fact.(3)
If the child or ward is in substitute care and the decision of the court is to continue the child or ward in substitute care, the findings of the court shall specifically state:(a)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(A)
Why continued care is necessary as opposed to returning the child or ward home or taking prompt action to secure another permanent placement; and(B)
The expected timetable for return or other permanent placement.(b)
Whether the agency having guardianship or legal custody of the child or ward has made diligent efforts to place the child or ward pursuant to ORS 419B.192 (Placement of child or ward).(c)
The number of placements made, schools attended, face-to-face contacts with the assigned case worker and visits had with parents or siblings since the child or ward has been in the guardianship or legal custody of the agency and whether the frequency of each of these is in the best interests of the child or ward.(d)
For a child or ward 14 years of age or older, whether the child or ward is progressing adequately toward graduation from high school and, if not, the efforts that have been made by the agency having custody or guardianship to assist the child or ward to graduate.(e)
For a ward 16 years of age or older with a permanency plan of another planned permanent living arrangement, the steps the department is taking to ensure that:(A)
The ward’s substitute care provider is following the reasonable and prudent parent standard; and(B)
The ward has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate activities, including consultation with the ward in an age-appropriate manner about the opportunities the ward has to participate in the activities.(4)
If the ward is in the legal custody of the department but has been placed in the physical custody of the parent or a person who was appointed the ward’s legal guardian prior to placement of the ward in the legal custody of the department, and the decision is to continue the ward in the legal custody of the department and the physical custody of the parent or guardian, the findings of the court shall specifically state:(a)
Why it is necessary and in the best interests of the ward to continue the ward in the legal custody of the department; and(b)
The expected timetable for dismissal of the department’s legal custody of the ward and termination of the wardship.(5)
If the child or ward is an Indian child and the child or ward is in the legal custody of the department but has been placed in the physical custody of the parent or a person who was appointed the child’s or ward’s legal guardian prior to placement of the child or ward in the legal custody of the department, the court may order that the child or ward be placed in the physical custody of a substitute care provider only after making all of the inquiry, notice and findings required under ORS 419B.305 (When hearing must be held) and 419B.310 (Conduct of hearings).(6)
In making the findings under subsection (2) of this section, the court shall consider the efforts made to develop the concurrent case plan, including, but not limited to, identification of appropriate permanent placement options for the child or ward both inside and outside this state and, if adoption is the concurrent case plan, identification and selection of a suitable adoptive placement for the child or ward.(7)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
If the child or ward is an Indian child, the findings of the court shall specifically state whether the department has provided active efforts to reunify the Indian child with the Indian child’s parent or Indian custodian.(b)
If the court finds that active efforts have not been provided, the court shall order that the Indian child be immediately returned to the Indian child’s parent.(c)
Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this subsection, if the court finds that returning the Indian child to the Indian child’s parent will result in substantial and immediate danger or threat of danger to the Indian child, the court shall:(A)
Determine the period of time during which active efforts were not provided;(B)
Order the department to provide those services necessary for the provision of active efforts;(C)
Order the department to continue placement of the Indian child pursuant to the placement preferences under ORS 419B.654 (Placement preferences); and(D)
Order the department to continue to foster relationships with any individuals identified by the department as long-term placement resources meeting the placement preferences under ORS 419B.654 (Placement preferences).(8)
In addition to findings of fact required by subsection (2) of this section, the court may order the department to consider additional information in developing the case plan or concurrent case plan.(9)
Any final decision of the court made pursuant to the hearing provided in subsection (1) of this section is appealable under ORS 419A.200 (Who may appeal). [1993 c.33 §132; 1999 c.568 §1; 2001 c.480 §8; 2001 c.910 §4; 2003 c.396 §77; 2007 c.610 §4; 2007 c.611 §7; 2007 c.806 §9; 2015 c.254 §4; 2015 c.795 §10; 2020 s.s.1 c.14 §46; 2021 c.398 §73]
Source:
Section 419B.449 — Review hearing by court; findings, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors419B.html.
Notes of Decisions
Final order is not appealable unless meeting criteria of ORS 419A.200 that order substantially changes conditions of wardship or adversely affects rights or duties of appellant by ruling on motion. State ex rel Juvenile Dept. v. Vockrodt, 147 Or App 4, 934 P2d 620 (1997); State ex rel Juvenile Dept. v. Brown, 175 Or App 1, 27 P3d 502 (2001), Sup Ct review denied
Where suitable adoptive placement is sought for child, court has discretion to order disclosure to court appointed special advocate of home study information submitted to adoption committee for consideration. State ex rel State Office for Services to Children and Families v. Mitchell, 182 Or App 402, 49 P3d 838 (2002), Sup Ct review denied
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