reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
FL Stat § 39.306 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part III - Protective Investigations (Ss. 39.301-39.308)|39.306 - Child protective investigations; working agreements with local law enforcement.

39.306 Child protective investigations; working agreements with local law enforcement.—The department shall enter into agreements with the jurisdictionally responsible county sheriffs’ offices and local police departments that will assume the lead in conducting any potential criminal investigations arising from allegations of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. The written agreement must specify how the requirements of this chapter will be met. For the purposes of such agreement, the jurisdictionally responsible law enforcement entity is authorized to share Florida criminal history and local criminal history information that is not otherwise exempt from s. 119.07(1) with the district personnel, authorized agent, or contract provider directly responsible for the child protective investigation and emergency child placement. The agencies entering into such agreement must comply with s. 943.0525. Criminal justice information provided by such law enforcement entity shall be used only for the purposes specified in the agreement and shall be provided at no charge. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Law Enforcement shall provide to the department electronic access to Florida criminal justice information which is lawfully available and not exempt from s. 119.07(1), only for the purpose of child protective investigations and emergency child placement. As a condition of access to such information, the department shall be required to execute an appropriate user agreement addressing the access, use, dissemination, and destruction of such information and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and rules of the Department of Law Enforcement.History.—s. 44, ch. 98-403; s. 11, ch. 99-168.
FL Stat § 39.3068 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part III - Protective Investigations (Ss. 39.301-39.308)|39.3068 - Reports of medical neglect.

39.3068 Reports of medical neglect.—(1) Upon receiving a report alleging medical neglect, the department or sheriff’s office shall assign the case to a child protective investigator who has specialized training in addressing medical neglect or working with medically complex children if such investigator is available. If a child protective investigator with specialized training is not available, the child protective investigator shall consult with department staff with such expertise.(2) The child protective investigator who has interacted with the child and the child’s family shall promptly contact and provide information to the Child Protection Team. The Child Protection Team shall assist the child protective investigator in identifying immediate responses to address the medical needs of the child with the priority of maintaining the child in the home if the parents will be able to meet the needs of the child with additional services. The child protective investigator and the Child Protection Team must use a family-centered approach to assess the capacity of the family to meet those needs. A family-centered approach is intended to increase independence on the part of the family, accessibility to programs and services within the community, and collaboration between families and their service providers. The ethnic, cultural, economic, racial, social, and religious diversity of families must be respected and considered in the development and provision of services.(3) The child shall be evaluated by the Child Protection Team as soon as practicable. If the Child Protection Team reports that medical neglect is substantiated, the department shall convene a case staffing which shall be attended, at a minimum, by the child protective investigator; department legal staff; and representatives from the Child Protection Team that evaluated the child, Children’s Medical Services, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the community-based care lead agency, and any providers of services to the child. However, the Agency for Health Care Administration is not required to attend the staffing if the child is not Medicaid eligible. The staffing shall consider, at a minimum, available services, given the family’s eligibility for services; services that are effective in addressing conditions leading to medical neglect allegations; and services that would enable the child to safely remain at home. Any services that are available and effective shall be provided.History.—s. 10, ch. 2014-224; s. 2, ch. 2015-79; s. 21, ch. 2019-3.
FL Stat § 39.308 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part III - Protective Investigations (Ss. 39.301-39.308)|39.308 - Guidelines for onsite child protective investigation.

39.308 Guidelines for onsite child protective investigation.—The Department of Children and Families, in collaboration with the sheriffs’ offices, shall develop guidelines for conducting an onsite child protective investigation that specifically does not require the additional activities required by the department and for conducting an enhanced child protective investigation, including determining whether compelling evidence exists that no maltreatment occurred, conducting collateral contacts, contacting the reporter, updating the risk assessment, and providing for differential levels of documentation between an onsite and an enhanced onsite child protective investigation.History.—s. 11, ch. 2003-127; s. 18, ch. 2014-19.
FL Stat § 39.395 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part IV - Taking Children Into Custody and Shelter Hearings (Ss. 39.395-39.4092)|39.395 - Detaining a child; medical or hospital personnel.

39.395 Detaining a child; medical or hospital personnel.—Any person in charge of a hospital or similar institution, or any physician or licensed health care professional treating a child may detain that child without the consent of the parents, caregiver, or legal custodian, whether or not additional medical treatment is required, if the circumstances are such, or if the condition of the child is such that returning the child to the care or custody of the parents, caregiver, or legal custodian presents an imminent danger to the child’s life or physical or mental health. Any such person detaining a child shall immediately notify the department, whereupon the department shall immediately begin a child protective investigation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and shall make every reasonable effort to immediately notify the parents or legal custodian that such child has been detained. If the department determines, according to the criteria set forth in this chapter, that the child should be detained longer than 24 hours, it shall petition the court through the attorney representing the Department of Children and Families as quickly as possible and not to exceed 24 hours, for an order authorizing such custody in the same manner as if the child were placed in a shelter. The department shall attempt to avoid the placement of a child in an institution whenever possible.History.—s. 56, ch. 98-403; s. 21, ch. 99-193; s. 19, ch. 2014-19.
FL Stat § 39.4021 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part IV - Taking Children Into Custody and Shelter Hearings (Ss. 39.395-39.4092)|39.4021 - Priority placement for out-of-home placements.

39.4021 Priority placement for out-of-home placements.—(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds that it is a basic tenet of child welfare practice and the law that a child be placed in the least restrictive, most family-like setting available in close proximity to the home of his or her parents which meets the needs of the child, and that a child be placed in a permanent home in a timely manner.(2) PLACEMENT PRIORITY.—(a) When a child cannot safely remain at home with a parent, out-of-home placement options must be considered in the following order:1. Nonoffending parent.2. Relative caregiver.3. Adoptive parent of the child’s sibling, when the department or community-based care lead agency is aware of such sibling.4. Fictive kin with a close existing relationship to the child.5. Nonrelative caregiver that does not have an existing relationship with the child.6. Licensed foster care.7. Group or congregate care.(b) Except as otherwise provided for in ss. 39.4022 and 39.4024, sibling groups must be placed in the same placement whenever possible and if placement together is in the best interest of each child in the sibling group. Placement decisions for sibling groups must be made pursuant to ss. 39.4022 and 39.4024.(c) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, a change to a child’s physical or legal placement after the child has been sheltered but before the child has achieved permanency must be made in compliance with this section. Placements made pursuant to s. 63.082(6) are exempt from this section.History.—s. 5, ch. 2021-169.
FL Stat § 39.40225 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part IV - Taking Children Into Custody and Shelter Hearings (Ss. 39.395-39.4092)|39.40225 - Contracts for development of model placement transition plans.

39.40225 Contracts for development of model placement transition plans.—The department shall contract for the development of model placement transition plans and related explanatory material that may be the basis for developing individualized transition plans for children in out-of-home care who are changing placements. Such plans must provide specific recommendations regarding transition plan elements that may include, but are not limited to, the length and pace of the transition and the sequence of steps needed to gradually introduce new caregivers and to build relationships and attachments. The model transition plans shall consider and vary in response to important factors affecting how a child’s placement transition should proceed to mitigate trauma and encourage the child’s healthy development and the stability of the placement, which may include, but is not limited to, the child’s age or developmental stage; the level and type of abuse, neglect, or trauma experienced by the child; attachment to or the length of time the child has spent with the current caregiver; and familiarity with, location of, and attachment to the proposed caregiver. The model transition plans and accompanying explanatory material must be provided to, at a minimum, all staff who develop transition plans for children in out-of-home care, whether such staff work for the department, a community-based care lead agency, or a subcontracted provider. The model transition plans and accompanying material may also be provided to caregivers and other child welfare professionals.History.—s. 7, ch. 2021-169.
FL Stat § 39.4075 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part IV - Taking Children Into Custody and Shelter Hearings (Ss. 39.395-39.4092)|39.4075 - Referral of a dependency case to mediation.

39.4075 Referral of a dependency case to mediation.—(1) At any stage in a dependency proceeding, any party may request the court to refer the parties to mediation in accordance with chapter 44 and rules and procedures developed by the Supreme Court.(2) A court may refer the parties to mediation. When such services are available, the court must determine whether it is in the best interests of the child to refer the parties to mediation.(3) The department shall advise the parties that they are responsible for contributing to the cost of the dependency mediation.(4) This section applies only to courts in counties in which dependency mediation programs have been established and does not require the establishment of such programs in any county.History.—s. 7, ch. 94-164; s. 60, ch. 98-403; s. 58, ch. 2003-402.Note.—Former s. 39.4033.
FL Stat § 39.501 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part V - Petition, Arraignment, Adjudication, and Disposition (Ss. 39.501-39.510)|39.501 - Petition for dependency.

39.501 Petition for dependency.—(1) All proceedings seeking an adjudication that a child is dependent shall be initiated by the filing of a petition by an attorney for the department, or any other person who has knowledge of the facts alleged or is informed of them and believes that they are true.(2) The purpose of a petition seeking the adjudication of a child as a dependent child is the protection of the child and not the punishment of the person creating the condition of dependency.(3)(a) The petition shall be in writing, shall identify and list all parents, if known, and all current legal custodians of the child, and shall be signed by the petitioner under oath stating the petitioner’s good faith in filing the petition. When the petition is filed by the department, it shall be signed by an attorney for the department.(b) The form of the petition and its contents shall be determined by rules of juvenile procedure adopted by the Supreme Court.(c) The petition must specifically set forth the acts or omissions upon which the petition is based and the identity of the person or persons alleged to have committed the acts or omissions, if known. The petition need not contain allegations of acts or omissions by both parents.(d) The petitioner must state in the petition, if known, whether:1. A parent or legal custodian named in the petition has previously unsuccessfully participated in voluntary services offered by the department;2. A parent or legal custodian named in the petition has participated in mediation and whether a mediation agreement exists;3. A parent or legal custodian has rejected the voluntary services offered by the department;4. A parent or legal custodian named in the petition has not fully complied with a safety plan; or5. The department has determined that voluntary services are not appropriate for the parent or legal custodian and the reasons for such determination.If the department is the petitioner, it shall provide all safety plans as defined in s. 39.01 involving the parent or legal custodian to the court.(4) When a child has been placed in shelter status by order of the court, a petition alleging dependency must be filed within 21 days after the shelter hearing, or within 7 days after any party files a demand for the early filing of a dependency petition, whichever comes first. In all other cases, the petition must be filed within a reasonable time after the date the child was referred to protective investigation. The child’s parent or legal custodian must be served with a copy of the petition at least 72 hours before the arraignment hearing.(5) A petition for termination of parental rights may be filed at any time.History.—s. 20, ch. 78-414; s. 7, ch. 84-311; s. 1, ch. 85-338; s. 7, ch. 87-289; s. 14, ch. 88-337; s. 6, ch. 90-306; s. 5, ch. 92-170; s. 8, ch. 94-164; s. 62, ch. 98-403; s. 25, ch. 99-193; s. 13, ch. 2014-224.Note.—Former s. 39.404.
FL Stat § 39.505 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part V - Petition, Arraignment, Adjudication, and Disposition (Ss. 39.501-39.510)|39.505 - No answer required.

39.505 No answer required.—No answer to the petition or any other pleading need be filed by any child, parent, or legal custodian, but any matters which might be set forth in an answer or other pleading may be pleaded orally before the court or filed in writing as any such person may choose. Notwithstanding the filing of an answer or any pleading, the respondent shall, prior to an adjudicatory hearing, be advised by the court of the right to counsel and shall be given an opportunity to deny the allegations in the petition for dependency or to enter a plea to allegations in the petition before the court.History.—s. 20, ch. 78-414; s. 229, ch. 95-147; s. 66, ch. 98-403.Note.—Former s. 39.406.
FL Stat § 39.5086 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part V - Petition, Arraignment, Adjudication, and Disposition (Ss. 39.501-39.510)|39.5086 - Kinship navigator programs.

39.5086 Kinship navigator programs.—(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:(a) “Kinship care” means the full-time care of a child placed in out-of-home care by the court in the home of a relative or fictive kin.(b) “Kinship navigator program” means a program designed to ensure that kinship caregivers are provided with necessary resources for the preservation of the family.(c) “Relative” means an individual who is caring full time for a child placed in out-of-home care by the court and who:1. Is related to the child within the fifth degree by blood or marriage to the parent or stepparent of the child; or2. Is related to a half-sibling of that child within the fifth degree by blood or marriage to the parent or stepparent.(2) PURPOSE AND SERVICES.—(a) The purpose of a kinship navigator program is to help relative caregivers and fictive kin in the child welfare system to navigate the broad range of services available to them and the children from public, private, community, and faith-based organizations.(b) Each community-based care lead agency shall establish a kinship navigator program that:1. Coordinates with other state or local agencies that promote service coordination or provide information and referral services, including any entities that participate in the Florida 211 Network, to avoid duplication or fragmentation of services to kinship care families;2. Is planned and operated in consultation with kinship caregivers and organizations representing them, youth raised by kinship caregivers, relevant governmental agencies, and relevant community-based or faith-based organizations;3. Has a toll-free telephone hotline to provide information to link kinship caregivers, kinship support group facilitators, and kinship service providers to:a. One another;b. Eligibility and enrollment information for federal, state, and local benefits;c. Relevant training to assist kinship caregivers in caregiving and in obtaining benefits and services; andd. Relevant knowledge related to legal options available for child custody, other legal assistance, and help in obtaining legal services.4. Provides outreach to kinship care families, including by establishing, distributing, and updating a kinship care website, or other relevant guides or outreach materials; and5. Promotes partnerships between public and private agencies, including schools, community-based or faith-based organizations, and relevant governmental agencies, to increase their knowledge of the needs of kinship care families to promote better services for those families.(3) RULEMAKING.—The department may adopt rules to implement this section.History.—s. 3, ch. 2018-108; s. 23, ch. 2019-3; s. 7, ch. 2019-142; s. 15, ch. 2021-170.
FL Stat § 39.510 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part V - Petition, Arraignment, Adjudication, and Disposition (Ss. 39.501-39.510)|39.510 - Appeal.

39.510 Appeal.—(1) Any party to the proceeding who is affected by an order of the court, or the department may appeal to the appropriate district court of appeal within the time and in the manner prescribed by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. Appointed counsel shall be compensated as provided in this chapter.(2) When the notice of appeal is filed in the circuit court by a party other than the department, an attorney for the department shall represent the state and the court upon appeal and shall be notified of the appeal by the clerk.(3) The taking of an appeal shall not operate as a supersedeas in any case unless pursuant to an order of the court, except that a permanent order of commitment to a licensed child-placing agency or the department for subsequent adoption shall be suspended while the appeal is pending, but the child shall continue in custody under the order until the appeal is decided.(4) The case on appeal shall be docketed, and any papers filed in the appellate court shall be entitled, with the initials but not the name of the child and the court case number, and the papers shall remain sealed in the office of the clerk of the appellate court when not in use by the appellate court and shall not be open to public inspection. The decision of the appellate court shall be likewise entitled and shall refer to the child only by initials and court case number.(5) The original order of the appellate court, with all papers filed in the case on appeal, shall remain in the office of the clerk of the appellate court, sealed and not open to inspection except by order of the appellate court. The clerk of the appellate court shall return to the circuit court all papers transmitted to the appellate court from the circuit court, together with a certified copy of the order of the appellate court.History.—s. 20, ch. 78-414; s. 11, ch. 84-311; s. 9, ch. 90-306; s. 8, ch. 92-170; s. 72, ch. 98-403; s. 34, ch. 99-193.Note.—Former s. 39.413.
FL Stat § 39.602 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title V - Judicial Branch|Chapter 39 - Proceedings Relating to Children|Part VII - Case Plans (Ss. 39.6011-39.604)|39.602 - Case planning when parents do not participate and the child is in out-of-home care.

39.602 Case planning when parents do not participate and the child is in out-of-home care.—(1) In the event the parents will not or cannot participate in preparation of a case plan, the department shall submit a full explanation of the circumstances and state the nature of its efforts to secure such persons’ participation in the preparation of a case plan.(2) In a case in which the physical, emotional, or mental condition or physical location of the parent is the basis for the parent’s nonparticipation, it is the burden of the department to provide substantial evidence to the court that such condition or location has rendered the parent unable or unwilling to participate in the preparation of a case plan, either pro se or through counsel. The supporting documentation must be submitted to the court at the time the plan is filed.(3) The plan must include, but need not be limited to, the specific services to be provided by the department, the goals and plans for the child, and the time for accomplishing the provisions of the plan and for accomplishing permanence for the child.(4)(a) At least 72 hours prior to the hearing in which the court will consider approval of the case plan, all parties must be provided with a copy of the plan developed by the department. If the location of one or both parents is unknown, this must be documented in writing and included in the plan submitted to the court. After the filing of the plan, if the location of an absent parent becomes known, that parent must be served with a copy of the plan.(b) Before the filing of the plan, the department shall advise each parent, both orally and in writing, that the failure of the parents to substantially comply with a plan may result in the termination of parental rights, but only after notice and hearing as provided in this chapter. If, after the plan has been submitted to the court, an absent parent is located, the department shall advise the parent, both orally and in writing, that the failure of the parents to substantially comply with a plan may result in termination of parental rights, but only after notice and hearing as provided in this chapter. Proof of written notification must be filed with the court.History.—s. 9, ch. 87-289; s. 32, ch. 88-337; s. 26, ch. 94-164; s. 17, ch. 95-228; s. 12, ch. 98-280; s. 75, ch. 98-403; s. 36, ch. 99-193.Note.—Former s. 39.452(1)-(4).