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

What Are Reasonable Efforts

Citation: Gen. Laws § 40-11-12.2

Reasonable efforts are measures taken to preserve and reunify families.

When Reasonable Efforts Are Required

Citation: Gen. Laws § 40-11-12.2

Reasonable efforts must be made to do the following:

• Prior to placement of a child in foster care to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the home that may include placement of the child with a relative
• To make it possible for the child to return home safely
• If continuation of efforts is determined to be inconsistent with the permanency plan for the child, to place the child in a timely manner and finalize a permanent placement

When Reasonable Efforts Are NOT Required

Citation: Gen. Laws § 40-11-12.2

Reasonable efforts are not required if a court determines that any of the following apply:

• The parent has subjected any child to conduct of a cruel and abusive nature.
• The parent has done any of the following:
  • Committed murder of another child of the parent
  • Subjected the child to aggravating circumstances, including abandonment, torture, chronic abuse, or sexual abuse
  • Committed voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent or attempted to commit such crime
  • Committed a felony assault that results in serious bodily injury of the child or another child of the parent
• The parent's parental rights to a sibling of the child have been terminated involuntarily.