ORS 419B.476
Conduct of hearing

  • court determinations
  • orders

(1)

A permanency hearing shall be conducted in the manner provided in ORS 418.312 (When transfer of custody not required), 419B.310 (Conduct of hearings), 419B.812 (Issuance of summons) to 419B.839 (Required and discretionary summons) and 419B.908 (Witness fees), except that the court may receive testimony and reports as provided in ORS 419B.325 (Disposition required).

(2)

At a permanency hearing the court shall:

(a)

If the case plan at the time of the hearing is to reunify the family, determine whether the Department of Human Services has made reasonable efforts or, if the ward is an Indian child, active efforts as described in ORS 419B.645 (Active efforts) to make it possible for the ward to safely return home and whether the parent has made sufficient progress to make it possible for the ward to safely return home. In making its determination, the court shall consider the ward’s health and safety the paramount concerns.

(b)

If the case plan at the time of the hearing is something other than to reunify the family, determine whether the department has made reasonable efforts to place the ward in a timely manner in accordance with the plan, including, if appropriate, reasonable efforts to place the ward through an interstate placement, and to complete the steps necessary to finalize the permanent placement.

(c)

If the case plan at the time of the hearing is something other than to reunify the family, determine whether the department has considered permanent placement options for the ward, including, if appropriate, whether the department has considered both permanent in-state placement options and permanent interstate placement options for the ward.

(d)

Make the findings of fact under ORS 419B.449 (Review hearing by court) (3).

(e)

If the child is an Indian child and the case plan at the time of the hearing is something other than to reunify the family, make a finding whether, after the department’s consultation with the child’s tribe, and, if the tribe appears at the hearing, the court’s direct consultation with the tribe, tribal customary adoption, as described in ORS 419B.656 (Tribal customary adoption), is an appropriate permanent placement for the child if reunification is unsuccessful.

(3)

When the ward is 14 years of age or older, in addition to making the determination required by subsection (2) of this section, at a permanency hearing the court shall review the comprehensive plan for the ward’s transition to successful adulthood and determine and make findings as to:

(a)

Whether the plan is adequate to ensure the ward’s transition to successful adulthood;

(b)

Whether the department has offered appropriate services pursuant to the plan; and

(c)

Whether the department has involved the ward in the development of the plan.

(4)

At a permanency hearing the court may:

(a)

If the case plan changed during the period since the last review by a local citizen review board or court hearing and a plan to reunify the family was in effect for any part of that period, determine whether the department has made reasonable efforts or, if the ward is an Indian child, active efforts as described in ORS 419B.645 (Active efforts) to make it possible for the ward to safely return home. In making its determination, the court shall consider the ward’s health and safety the paramount concerns;

(b)

If the case plan changed during the period since the last review by a local citizen review board or court hearing and a plan other than to reunify the family was in effect for any part of that period, determine whether the department has made reasonable efforts to place the ward in a timely manner in accordance with the plan, including, if appropriate, placement of the ward through an interstate placement, and to complete the steps necessary to finalize the permanent placement;

(c)

If the court determines that further efforts will make it possible for the ward to safely return home within a reasonable time, order that the parents participate in specific services for a specific period of time and make specific progress within that period of time;

(d)

Determine the adequacy and compliance with the case plan and the case progress report;

(e)

Review the efforts made by the department to develop the concurrent permanent plan, including but not limited to identification of appropriate permanent in-state placement options and appropriate permanent interstate placement options and, if adoption is the concurrent case plan, identification and selection of a suitable adoptive placement for the ward;

(f)

Order the department to develop or expand the case plan or concurrent permanent plan and provide a case progress report to the court and other parties within 10 days after the permanency hearing;

(g)

Order the department or agency to modify the care, placement and supervision of the ward;

(h)

Order the local citizen review board to review the status of the ward prior to the next court hearing; or

(i)

Set another court hearing at a later date.

(5)

The court shall enter an order within 20 days after the permanency hearing. In addition to any determinations or orders the court may make under subsection (4) of this section, the order shall include the following:

(a)

The court’s determinations required under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, including a brief description of the efforts the department has made with regard to the case plan in effect at the time of the permanency hearing.

(b)

The court’s determination of the permanency plan for the ward that includes whether and, if applicable, when:

(A)

The ward will be returned to the parent;

(B)

The ward will be placed for adoption, and a petition for termination of parental rights will be filed;

(C)

The ward will be referred for establishment of legal guardianship;

(D)

The ward will be placed with a fit and willing relative; or

(E)

If the ward is 16 years of age or older, the ward will be placed in another planned permanent living arrangement.

(c)

If the court determines that the permanency plan for the ward should be to return home because further efforts will make it possible for the ward to safely return home within a reasonable time, the court’s determination of the services in which the parents are required to participate, the progress the parents are required to make and the period of time within which the specified progress must be made.

(d)

If the court determines that the permanency plan for the ward should be adoption, the court’s determination of whether one of the circumstances in ORS 419B.498 (Termination of parental rights) (2) is applicable.

(e)

If the court determines that the permanency plan for the ward should be establishment of a legal guardianship, the court’s determination of why neither placement with parents nor adoption is appropriate.

(f)

If the court determines that the permanency plan for a ward should be placement with a fit and willing relative, the court’s determination of why placement with the ward’s parents, or for adoption, or placement with a legal guardian, is not appropriate.

(g)

If the court determines that the permanency plan for the ward should be tribal customary adoption, the court’s determination of whether one of the circumstances in ORS 419B.498 (Termination of parental rights) (2) is applicable.

(h)

If the court determines that the permanency plan for a ward 16 years of age or older should be another planned permanent living arrangement, the court’s determinations:

(A)

Why another planned permanent living arrangement is in the ward’s best interests and a compelling reason, that must be documented by the department, why it would not be in the best interests of the ward to be returned home, placed for adoption, placed with a legal guardian or placed with a fit and willing relative; and

(B)

That the department has taken steps to ensure that:
(i)
The ward’s substitute care provider is following the reasonable and prudent parent standard; and
(ii)
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.
(i)
If the current placement is not expected to be permanent, the court’s projected timetable for return home or for placement in another planned permanent living arrangement. If the timetable set forth by the court is not met, the department shall promptly notify the court and parties.

(j)

If the ward is an Indian child, the tribal affiliation of the ward.

(k)

If the ward is an Indian child and if the court determines that the permanency plan for the ward should be something other than to reunify the family, the court’s determination, by clear and convincing evidence, that:

(A)

Active efforts as described in ORS 419B.645 (Active efforts) were provided to make it possible for the Indian child to safely return home;

(B)

Despite the efforts provided, continued removal of the Indian child is necessary to prevent serious emotional or physical damage to the Indian child;

(C)

The parent has not made sufficient progress to make it possible for the Indian child to safely return home; and

(D)

The new permanency plan complies with the placement preferences described in ORS 419B.654 (Placement preferences).

(L)

If the ward has been placed in an interstate placement, the court’s determination of whether the interstate placement continues to be appropriate and in the best interests of the ward.

(6)

In making the determinations under subsection (5)(h) of this section, the court shall ask the ward about the ward’s desired permanency outcome.

(7)

If the child is an Indian child:

(a)

The court shall follow the placement preferences described in ORS 419B.654 (Placement preferences).

(b)

If the court finds that the department did not provide active efforts to make it possible for the Indian child to safely return home, the court may not, at that permanency hearing, change the permanency plan to something other than to reunify the family.

(c)

If the court finds that the department did not provide active efforts to make it possible for the Indian child to return home, except as otherwise required under ORS 419B.470 (Permanency hearing), the court may not set a date for a subsequent permanency hearing until the department has provided active efforts for the number of days that active efforts were not previously provided.

(d)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(A)

If the court determines that tribal customary adoption, as described in ORS 419B.656 (Tribal customary adoption), is an appropriate permanent placement for the child, and the Indian child’s tribe consents, the court shall request that the tribe file with the court a tribal customary adoption order or judgment evidencing that the tribal customary adoption has been completed. The tribe must file the tribal customary adoption order or judgment no less than 20 days prior to the date set by the court for hearing.

(B)

Upon the tribe’s request, the court may grant an extension of time to file the tribal customary adoption order or judgment, not to exceed 60 days.

(C)

If the tribe does not file the tribal customary adoption order or judgment within the designated time period, the court shall order a new permanency hearing to determine the best permanency plan for the child.

(8)

Any final decision of the court made pursuant to the permanency hearing is appealable under ORS 419A.200 (Who may appeal). On appeal of a final decision of the court under this subsection, the court’s finding, if any, under ORS 419B.340 (Reasonable or active efforts determination) (5) that the department is not required to make reasonable efforts to make it possible for the ward to safely return home is an interlocutory order to which a party may assign error. [1993 c.33 §137; 1993 c.546 §128; 1999 c.568 §2; 1999 c.859 §15; 2001 c.480 §9; 2001 c.622 §50; 2001 c.686 §16; 2001 c.910 §5; 2003 c.396 §81; 2003 c.544 §1a; 2007 c.611 §8; 2007 c.806 §11; 2015 c.254 §5; 2020 s.s.1 c.14 §38; 2021 c.398 §65b]

Source: Section 419B.476 — Conduct of hearing; court determinations; orders, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors419B.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Where incarceration, immigration detention or other changes relevant to reunification occur during assessment period, Department of Human Services “reasonable efforts” require inquiry into, and arrangement for, services available under circumstances. State ex rel Dept. of Human Services v. H.S.C., 218 Or App 415, 180 P3d 39 (2008)

Petitioner is not required to preserve error in order to challenge lack of statutorily required findings of fact in court order. State ex rel Department of Human Services v. M.A., 227 Or App 172, 205 P3d 36 (2009)

Juvenile court must expressly explain reasons for making change in permanency plan. Department of Human Services v. L.B., 246 Or App 169, 265 P3d 42 (2011)

Juvenile court’s failure to make findings required by ORS 419B.476 (5)(b)(B) does not render judgment defective on its face; findings regarding when ward will be placed for adoption and when petition for termination of rights will be filed does not reflect on substance of juvenile court’s permanency determination or reflect bases for court’s reasoning or ultimate decision. Dept. of Human Services v. T.R., 251 Or App 6, 282 P3d 969 (2012), Sup Ct review denied

Juvenile court has authority to correct error in permanency judgment more than 20 days after permanency hearing. Department of Human Services v. A.J.M., 256 Or App 547, 301 P3d 962 (2013), Sup Ct review denied

When read together with ORS 419B.498, juvenile court may not change child’s permanency plan from reunification to adoption if court determines compelling reason exists to not terminate parental rights, and burden of proving compelling reason falls on party seeking to avoid change of plan. Dept. of Human Services v. S. J. M., 283 Or App 367, 388 P3d 417 (2017), modified Dept. of Human Services v. S. J. M., 364 Or 37, 430 P3d 1021 (2018), Sup Ct review denied

Juvenile court erred by relying on evidence of estrangement between child and father in making permanency determination when estrangement was not established as basis for jurisdiction in case. Dept. of Human Services v. T.L., 287 Or App 753, 403 P3d 488 (2017)

Statutory guardianship test is not applicable once ward’s permanency plan is invalidated, and guardianship must be set aside until new permanency plan is approved. In re: D.J.B., 289 Or App 88, 407 P3d 972 (2017)

Where Department of Human Services does not provide services required under reunification plan to parent, court must engage in “cost-benefit-like analysis” to determine whether department made “reasonable efforts” to reunify child with parent. Dept. of Human Services v. K.G.T., 306 Or App 368, 473 P3d 131 (2020)

Juvenile court erred in finding that Department of Human Services made reasonable efforts to reunify father and child where plain language of judgment of jurisdiction identified father’s autism spectrum disorder with accompanying intellectual impairment as root cause of father’s parenting issues and department failed to make any efforts to investigate availability of services for autistic adults. Dept. of Human Services v. J.D.R., 312 Or App 510, 493 P3d 567 (2021)

419B.005
Definitions
419B.007
Policy
419B.010
Duty of officials to report child abuse
419B.015
Report form and content
419B.016
Offense of false report of child abuse
419B.017
Time limits for notification between law enforcement agencies and Department of Human Services
419B.019
Investigation of report involving school
419B.020
Duty of department or law enforcement agency receiving report
419B.021
Degree requirements for persons conducting investigation or making determination regarding child
419B.023
Duties of person conducting investigation under ORS 419B.020
419B.025
Immunity of person making report in good faith
419B.026
Required findings for investigation conducted under ORS 419B.020
419B.028
Photographing child during investigation
419B.030
Central registry of reports
419B.035
Confidentiality of records
419B.040
Certain privileges not grounds for excluding evidence in court proceedings on child abuse
419B.045
Investigation conducted on school premises
419B.050
Authority of health care provider to disclose information
419B.055
Action by Attorney General for protective order on behalf of department employee
419B.090
Juvenile court
419B.100
Jurisdiction
419B.110
Emergency medical care
419B.112
Court appointed special advocate
419B.116
Intervention
419B.117
Notice to parents or guardian of child
419B.118
Venue
419B.121
Return of runaway children to another state
419B.124
Transfer to juvenile court from another court
419B.127
Transfer to court of county of child or ward’s residence
419B.130
Delegation of jurisdiction by county of residence
419B.132
Delegation of jurisdiction among county juvenile courts
419B.135
Transfer of case
419B.150
When protective custody authorized
419B.152
Protective custody of runaway child
419B.155
Protective custody not arrest
419B.157
Jurisdiction attaches at time of custody
419B.160
Prohibition on detention
419B.165
Release of child taken into custody
419B.168
Procedure when child is not released
419B.171
Report required when child is taken into protective custody
419B.175
Initial disposition of child taken into protective custody
419B.180
Shelter facilities
419B.183
Speedy hearing required
419B.185
Evidentiary hearing
419B.192
Placement of child or ward
419B.194
Participation in extracurricular activities
419B.195
Appointment of counsel for child or ward
419B.198
Responsibility for payment of costs related to provision of appointed counsel for child or ward
419B.201
Compensation for court-appointed counsel for child or ward under ORS 135.055
419B.205
Appointment of counsel for parent or legal guardian
419B.208
Other law applicable to appointment of counsel
419B.211
Motion to withdraw as counsel
419B.220
Appointment of surrogate
419B.223
Duties and tenure of surrogate
419B.231
Appointment
419B.234
Qualifications
419B.237
Duration of appointment
419B.305
When hearing must be held
419B.310
Conduct of hearings
419B.325
Disposition required
419B.328
Ward of the court
419B.331
When protective supervision authorized
419B.334
Placement out of state
419B.335
Department of Human Services reports regarding out-of-state placements
419B.337
Commitment to custody of Department of Human Services
419B.340
Reasonable or active efforts determination
419B.343
Recommendations of committing court
419B.346
Medical planning
419B.349
Court authority to review placement or proposed placement
419B.351
Court approval of placement in qualified residential treatment program
419B.352
Hospitalization
419B.365
Permanent guardianship
419B.366
Guardianship
419B.367
Letters of guardianship
419B.368
Review, modification or vacation of guardianship order
419B.369
Guardianship study
419B.371
Community guardianship
419B.372
Guardianship as incident of custody
419B.373
Duties and authority of legal custodian
419B.376
Duties and authority of guardian
419B.379
Guardian is not conservator
419B.385
Parent or guardian as party
419B.387
Parent participation in treatment or training
419B.389
Inability of parent to comply with order of court
419B.395
Judgment of parentage or nonparentage
419B.400
Authority to order support
419B.402
Support order is judgment
419B.404
Support for child or ward in state financed or supported institution
419B.406
Assignment of support order to state
419B.408
Enforcement of support order
419B.440
Circumstances requiring reports
419B.443
Time and content of reports
419B.446
Filing report
419B.449
Review hearing by court
419B.452
Distribution of report by court
419B.460
Agency’s responsibility
419B.470
Permanency hearing
419B.473
Notice
419B.476
Conduct of hearing
419B.498
Termination of parental rights
419B.500
Termination of parental rights generally
419B.502
Termination upon finding of extreme conduct
419B.504
Termination upon finding of unfitness
419B.506
Termination upon finding of neglect
419B.508
Termination upon finding of abandonment
419B.510
Termination upon finding child conceived as result of rape
419B.517
Mediation to be encouraged
419B.518
Appointment of counsel for parents
419B.521
Conduct of termination hearing
419B.524
Effect of termination order
419B.527
Disposition of ward after termination
419B.529
Adoption after permanent commitment or surrender
419B.530
Representation by Attorney General
419B.532
Reinstatement of parental rights
419B.550
Definitions for ORS 419B.550 to 419B.558
419B.552
Application for emancipation judgment
419B.555
Hearing
419B.558
Entry of judgment of emancipation
419B.600
Policy on Indian child welfare
419B.603
Definitions
419B.606
Custody
419B.609
Acknowledgment or establishment of parentage
419B.612
Best interests of Indian child
419B.615
Assistance enrolling child in tribe
419B.618
Determination of Indian child’s tribe
419B.621
Judicial determination of Indian child’s residence, domicile and status as ward
419B.622
Domicile
419B.624
Tribal-state agreements
419B.627
Jurisdiction
419B.630
Motion to transfer to tribal court
419B.633
Transfer to tribal court
419B.636
Inquiry to determine whether child is Indian child
419B.639
Notice to tribe in emergency proceeding
419B.642
Qualified expert witness
419B.645
Active efforts
419B.646
Right to appear
419B.647
Right to counsel
419B.648
Right to examine reports or documents
419B.651
Vacating order or judgment regarding jurisdiction, placement, guardianship or termination of parental rights
419B.652
Determination regarding improper removal or retainment
419B.654
Placement preferences
419B.656
Tribal customary adoption
419B.657
Reports to Legislative Assembly
419B.660
Conflict of laws
419B.663
Full faith and credit
419B.665
Rules
419B.800
Applicability of ORS 419B.800 to 419B.929
419B.803
Jurisdiction
419B.806
Consolidation
419B.809
Petition
419B.812
Issuance of summons
419B.815
Summons for proceeding to establish jurisdiction under ORS 419B.100
419B.816
Notice to person contesting petition to establish jurisdiction
419B.818
Form of summons under ORS 419B.815
419B.819
Summons for proceeding to establish permanent guardianship or terminate parental rights
419B.820
Notice to parent contesting petition to establish permanent guardianship or terminate parental rights
419B.822
Form of summons under ORS 419B.819
419B.823
Service of summons generally
419B.824
Methods of serving summons
419B.827
Responsibility for costs of service of summons and travel expenses of party summoned
419B.830
Return of summons
419B.833
Proof of service of summons or mailing
419B.836
Effect of error in summons or service of summons
419B.839
Required and discretionary summons
419B.842
When arrest warrant authorized
419B.845
Restraining order when child abuse alleged
419B.846
Service of restraining order
419B.848
Process generally
419B.851
Service of process
419B.854
Computing statutory time periods
419B.857
Pleadings
419B.860
Motions
419B.863
Pleadings
419B.866
Signing pleadings required
419B.869
Responding to pleadings
419B.872
Amendment of pleadings
419B.875
Parties to proceedings
419B.876
Visitation or other contact between grandparent and ward
419B.878
Judicial inquiry and finding regarding whether child is Indian child
419B.881
Disclosure
419B.884
Depositions
419B.887
Objections at depositions
419B.890
Dismissal of petition at end of petitioner’s case
419B.893
Subpoenas generally
419B.896
Subpoena for production of books, papers, documents and other tangible things
419B.899
Issuance of subpoena
419B.902
Service of subpoena
419B.905
Subpoena of incarcerated witness
419B.908
Witness fees
419B.911
Failure to obey subpoena
419B.914
Proceeding when person entitled to service is not summoned and is not before court
419B.918
Manner of appearance
419B.920
New hearings
419B.923
Modifying or setting aside order or judgment
419B.926
Stay of order or judgment pending appeal
419B.929
Enforcement of certain orders and judgments
419B.950
Educational program regarding federal and state adoption and child welfare laws
419B.953
Training and continuing education for caseworkers
Green check means up to date. Up to date