(Revision. 10/15/02)
AS 47.14.100(c) Powers and Duties of Department over Care of Child,
P. L. 96-272 Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980,
P. L. 95-608 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
The division may place minors for a period of up to six months on the basis of an individual voluntary written agreement between the minor's parent, legal guardian, Indian Custodian, or other person having legal custody, and the department. The legal or Indian custodian can remove the child from the placement at any time. It is not appropriate to use a voluntary placement when there are child abuse or neglect issues present, and voluntary placement will never be used when emergency custody has been assumed, as an alternative to initiating CINA proceedings, or if a parent appears incapacitated or does not appear competent to sign legal documents. Voluntary placements are not to be confused with voluntary relinquishment which must be taken in court.
Placement preferences should ordinarily be followed when children go into voluntary placement (see section 3.4.2 Searching for Relatives, Identifying and Processing Requests for Placement).