Title VI, HUMAN SERVICES (Ch. 216 - 255A)

1. After a dispositional hearing the court may close the child in need of assistance case and appoint a guardian pursuant to sections 232D.308 and 232D.401 if all of the following conditions are met: a. The person receiving guardianship meets the definition of custodian in sectio…

1. a. After a dispositional hearing, the court may enter an order transferring the legal custody of the child to a parent of the child. If the court finds that custody with either of the child’s parents is not in the child’s best interests, the child’s custody shall be transferre…

1. For the purposes of this subchapter : a. “Reasonable efforts” means the efforts made to preserve and unify a family prior to the out-of-home placement of a child in foster care or to eliminate the need for removal of the child or make it possible for the child to safely return…

1. At any time prior to expiration of a dispositional order and upon the motion of an authorized party or upon its own motion as provided in this section , the court may terminate the order and discharge the child, modify the order, or vacate the order and make a new order. 2. Th…

1. The juvenile court may close a child in need of assistance case by transferring jurisdiction over the child’s custody, physical care, and visitation to the district court through a bridge order, if all of the following criteria are met: a. The child has been adjudicated a chil…

1. A juvenile court may close a child in need of assistance case by returning jurisdiction of the child’s custody to the district court through an order modifying issues of legal custody, physical care, and parenting time if all of the following criteria have been met: a. The chi…

1. a. The time for the initial permanency hearing for a child subject to out-of-home placement shall be the earlier of the following: (1) For a temporary removal order entered under section 232.78 , 232.95 , or 232.96 , for a child who was removed without a court order under sect…

If the court enters an order under this chapter which imposes terms and conditions on the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, the purpose of the terms and conditions shall be to assure the protection of the child. The order is subject to the following provisions: 1. The order…

1. If the court orders the transfer of custody of a child and siblings to the department or other agency for placement under this chapter , the department or other agency shall make reasonable efforts to place the child and siblings together whenever possible if such placement is…

The juvenile court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over proceedings under this chapter to terminate a parent-child relationship and all parental rights with respect to a child. No such termination shall be ordered except under the provisions of this chapter if the court has mad…

1. A child shall have the right to be represented by counsel at the following stages of the proceedings within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under subchapter II or subchapter VIII : a. From the time the child is taken into custody for any alleged delinquent act that cons…

1. Venue for termination proceedings under this chapter shall be in the judicial district where the child is found or the judicial district where the child resides except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 . 2. If a court has made an order concerning the child pursuant to the …

1. A child’s guardian, guardian ad litem, or custodian, the department, a juvenile court officer, or the county attorney may file a petition for termination of the parent-child relationship and parental rights with respect to a child. 2. a. Unless any of the circumstances describ…

1. Persons listed in section 232.111, subsection 4 , shall be necessary parties to a termination of parent-child relationship proceeding and are entitled to receive notice and an opportunity to be heard, except that notice may be dispensed with in the case of any such person whos…

1. Upon the filing of a petition the parent identified in the petition shall have the right to counsel in connection with all subsequent hearings and proceedings. If the parent desires but is financially unable to employ counsel, the court shall appoint counsel. 2. Upon the filin…

1. As used in this section , “state” means the general interest held by the people in the health, safety, welfare, and protection of all children living in this state. 2. Upon the filing of a petition the county attorney shall represent the state in all adversary proceedings aris…

Stenographic notes or electronic or mechanical recordings shall be taken of all court hearings held pursuant to this subchapter unless waived by the parties. The child shall not be competent to waive the reporting requirement, but waiver may be made for the child by the child’s c…

1. Except as provided in subsection 3 , the court may order the termination of both the parental rights with respect to a child and the relationship between the parent and the child on any of the following grounds: a. The parents voluntarily and intelligently consent to the termi…

1. After the hearing is concluded the court shall make and file written findings. 2. If the court concludes that facts sufficient to terminate parental rights have not been established by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall dismiss the petition. 3. If the court conclud…

1. Upon application of an interested party or upon the court’s own motion, the court having jurisdiction of the child may, after notice to the parties and a hearing, remove a court-appointed guardian and appoint a guardian in accordance with the provisions of section 232.117, sub…

1. The purpose of this section is to facilitate the placement of all children in Iowa who are legally available for adoption through the establishment of an adoption exchange to help find adoptive homes for these children. 2. An adoption information exchange is established within…

Upon the filing of a petition the county attorney shall represent the state in all adversary proceedings arising under this subchapter and shall present evidence in support of the petition. [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §232.19; C79, 81, §232.12 ] 2020 Acts, ch 1062, §94

If a foster parent is providing preadoptive care to a child for whom a termination of parental rights petition has been filed, the placement of the child with that foster parent shall continue through the termination of parental rights proceeding unless the court orders otherwise…

The juvenile court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over family in need of assistance proceedings. [C79, 81, §232.122 ] Referred to in §232C.2 , 232C.3

Venue for family in need of assistance proceedings shall be determined in accordance with section 232.62 . [C79, 81, §232.123 ] Referred to in §232C.2 , 232C.3

1. A family in need of assistance proceeding shall be initiated by the filing of a petition alleging that a child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian are a family in need of assistance. 2. Such a petition may be filed by the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, by t…

1. The court shall appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of the child at the hearing to determine whether the family is a family in need of assistance unless the child already has such counsel or guardian. The court shall appoint counsel for the parent…

1. Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall fix a time for a hearing and give notice thereof to the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian. 2. A parent without custody may petition the court to be made a party to proceedings under this subchapter . 3. The cour…

1. For purposes of chapter 669 , the following persons shall be considered state employees: a. A child given a work assignment of value to the state or the public or a community work assignment under this chapter . b. A court appointed special advocate and the members of the chil…

1. An interested party aggrieved by an order or decree of the juvenile court may appeal from the court for review of questions of law or fact. However, an order adjudicating a child to have committed a delinquent act, entered pursuant to section 232.47 , shall not be appealed unt…

1. Except as otherwise provided by law, the court shall inquire into the ability of the child or the child’s parent to pay expenses incurred pursuant to subsections 2, 4, and 8 . After giving the parent a reasonable opportunity to be heard, the court may order the parent to pay a…

1. County boards of supervisors which singly or in conjunction with one or more other counties provide and maintain juvenile detention and juvenile shelter care homes are subject to this section . 2. For the purpose of providing and maintaining a county or multicounty home, the b…

1. Juvenile court social records shall be confidential. They shall not be inspected and their contents shall not be disclosed except as provided in this section or as authorized by other provisions in this chapter . 2. Official juvenile court records in all cases except those all…

1. Except as provided in this section , a child shall not be fingerprinted or photographed by a criminal or juvenile justice agency after the child is taken into custody. 2. Fingerprints of a child who has been taken into custody shall be taken and filed by a criminal or juvenile…

1. The taking of a child into custody under the provisions of section 232.19 shall not be considered an arrest. 2. Records and files of a criminal or juvenile justice agency, an intake officer, or a juvenile court officer concerning a child involved in a delinquent act are confid…

1. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Code to the contrary, upon the court’s own motion or application of a person who was the subject of a complaint or petition alleging the commission of a delinquent act that would be a forcible felony if committed by an adult, the cour…

1. A rebuttable presumption exists that official juvenile court records in delinquency proceedings that do not involve an allegation of delinquency that would be a forcible felony offense if committed by an adult shall remain confidential as provided by section 232.147 . 2. Upon …

1. a. In the case of an adjudication of delinquency, the court shall upon its own motion schedule a sealing of records hearing to be held two years after the date of the last official action, or the date the child becomes eighteen years of age, whichever is later. The court shall…

1. Any person who knowingly discloses, receives, or makes use or permits the use of information derived directly or indirectly from the records concerning a child referred to in sections 232.147 through 232.150 , except as provided by those sections or section 13B.4A, subsection …

The interstate compact on the placement of children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows: 1. Article I — Purpose and policy. It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate …

1. Notwithstanding any provision of the interstate compact on the placement of children under section 232.158 to the contrary, the department shall permit the legal risk placement of a child under the interstate compact on the placement of children if the prospective adoptive par…

Financial responsibility for any child placed pursuant to the provisions of the interstate compact on the placement of children under section 232.158 shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of article V of that interstate compact in the first instance. However, in t…

The “appropriate public authorities” as used in article III of the interstate compact on the placement of children under section 232.158 shall, with reference to this state, mean the state department of health and human services and the department shall receive and act with refer…

As used in paragraph “a” of article V of the interstate compact on the placement of children under section 232.158 , the phrase “appropriate authority in the receiving state” with reference to this state means the state department of health and human services. [C71, 73, 75, 77, 7…

The officers and agencies of this state and its subdivisions having authority to place children may enter into agreements with appropriate officers or agencies of or in other party states pursuant to paragraph “b” of article V of the interstate compact on the placement of childre…

1. Any requirements for visitation, inspection, or supervision of children, homes, institutions, or other agencies in another party state which may apply under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be met if performed pursuant to an agreement entered into by appropria…