9 :6-8.8 . Health, safety, best interest of child paramount concern.

9 :6-8.8 .  Health, safety, best interest of child paramount concern.

   1. a. The purpose of this act is to provide for the protection of children under 18 years of age who have had serious injury inflicted upon them by other than accidental means. The safety of the children served shall be of paramount concern and the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.  It is the intent of this legislation to assure that the lives of innocent children are immediately safeguarded from further injury and possible death and that the legal rights of the children are fully protected.

   b. (1) In accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection, when determining the reasonable efforts to be made and when making the reasonable efforts, the child's health and safety shall be of paramount concern and the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

   (2)   In any case in which the division accepts a child in care or custody, the division shall make reasonable efforts, prior to placement, to preserve the family in order to prevent the need for removing the child from his home.  After placement, the division shall make reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to safely return to his home.

   (3)   Reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or with a legal guardian or in an alternative permanent placement may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the child's family.

   (4)   In any case in which family reunification is not the permanency plan for the child, reasonable efforts shall be made to place the child in a timely manner and to complete the steps necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child.

   L.1971, c.437, s.1; amended 1999, c.53, s.4; 2015, c.255, s.2.