Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children - Oregon

What Are Reasonable Efforts

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.340

Reasonable efforts include preventive and reunification services.

For an Indian child, the Department of Human Services must make active efforts to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family.

When Reasonable Efforts Are Required

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.340

Reasonable efforts must be made to do the following:

• To prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the home
• To make it possible for the child to return home safely

When Reasonable Efforts Are NOT Required

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.340

The court may find that the department is not required to make reasonable efforts if one of the following circumstances exists:

• The parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances including, but not limited to, the following:
  • The parent by abuse or neglect has caused the death of any child.
  • The parent has attempted, solicited, or conspired to cause the death of any child.
  • The parent by abuse or neglect has caused serious physical injury to any child.
  • The parent has subjected any child to rape, sodomy, or sexual abuse.
  • The parent has subjected any child to intentional starvation or torture.
  • The parent has abandoned the child.
  • The parent has unlawfully caused the death of the other parent of the child.
• The parent has been convicted in any jurisdiction of one of the following crimes:
  • Murder or manslaughter of another child of the parent
  • Aiding, abetting, attempting, conspiring, or soliciting to commit any such crime
  • Felony assault that results in serious physical injury to the child or another child of the parent
• The parent's rights to another child have been terminated involuntarily.