What Are Reasonable Efforts
]
Statute: § 78-3a-311

Services provided to the child and the child's parent for the purpose of facilitating reunification of the family, for a specified period of time

The time period for reunification services may not exceed 12 months from the date that the child was initially removed from the child's home

When Reasonable Efforts Are Required

Statute: § 78-3a-306

To prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the minor from his home

To prevent the need for continued removal

When Reasonable Efforts Are NOT Required

Statute: § 78-3a-311

In cases where obvious sexual abuse, abandonment, or serious physical abuse or neglect are involved

The whereabouts of the parent are unknown

The parent is suffering from a mental illness of
such magnitude that it renders him incapable of
utilizing reunification services

The minor has been previously removed and
reunified with the parent and is being removed
due to additional abuse or neglect

The minor has suffered severe abuse by the parent
or a person known to the parent, and the court
finds that it would not benefit the child to
pursue reunification with the offending parent

Parental rights to another child have been
terminated involuntarily

The child has been removed from the home on at
least 2 previous occasions and reunification
services were offered or provided at those times

The parent has abandoned the child for a period
of 6 months or longer

Any other circumstance that the court determines
should preclude reunification efforts