Reasonable Efforts to Reunify Families Pennsylvania

What Are Reasonable Efforts

Statute: 23 PCSA § 6373; 42 PCSA § 6351

Efforts to assist the child and the child's parent
Preventive services

When Reasonable Efforts Are Required

Statute: 23 PCSA § 6373; 42 PCSA § 6351

To prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the home

To make it possible for the child to return home

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When Reasonable Efforts Are NOT Required

Statute: 42 PCSA §§ 6351; 6302

The court has determined that aggravated circumstances exist and no new or additional efforts are required.

'Aggravated circumstances' mean:

The child is in the custody of a county agency and the identity or location of the parents is unknown and the parent does not claim the child within 3 months or have failed to maintain contact for a period of 6 months

The child or another child has been the victim of serious physical abuse, sexual violence, or
aggravated physical neglect by the parent

The parent has been convicted of any of the
following crimes where the victim was a child:
criminal homicide, aggravated assault, rape,
statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, or
the attempt to commit any such crime

Parental rights to another child have been
terminated involuntarily