Ky.gov
Effective: 1/18/2023

C7.3 Relative and Absent Parent Search

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​For a child(ren) at risk of entering out-of-home care (OOHC), or a child(ren) currently in OOHC, exploration of possible relative placement is a critical process. For states to receive federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance, federal law (42 USC 617(a)(19)) requires that the SSW consider giving preference to a relative caregiver when determining placement for a child, provided that the relative caregiver meets all relevant state child protection standards.

P.L. 110.351 requires due diligence to identify and notify all adult relatives of a child within thirty (30) calendar days of the child’s removal and of the relative’s option to become a placement resource for the child. More importantly, the child(ren) being placed are much more likely to have a significant attachment to the caregiver and other familial support as a result of being placed with a relative. The following standard of practice (SOP) outlines the process used to explore relatives as a potential placement option.

Continuous relative searches, mapping sessions with the child, and continued efforts by the private child caring (PCC) and private child placing (PCP) agencies can ensure that workers identify significant persons in the child’s life to include in visitation agreements. In addition to the reasonable efforts for continuous searches, diligent relative searches and sound visitation agreements should be made for relative caregivers. Notice should also be provided to any parent(s) of a sibling to the child to ensure that appropriate contact can be maintained during reasonable visitation per P.L. 113-183. 

Continuous relative searches and engagement must continue during every OOHC consultation, as new potential caregivers or individuals who could contribute to a child's community may be identified throughout the case.

Practice Guidance

  • For children at risk of removal or children who have been removed, ask the child about their family members and people with whom they have a special relationship. This can be completed by having the child map out moments of their life. At the time of removal, some children may be unable, or unwilling, to participate in the mobility mapping exercise. While practicing trauma-informed care, practitioners may try again with the child or their natural supports already known to the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). Mobility mapping can be done with adults and children.
  • Information obtained from mapping should be shared with PCP/PCC agencies to continue the family finding efforts and to build a community for the child.
  • During the relative exploration portion of the ten (10) day conference, ask: Who loves this child? Who might love this child? Who could learn to love this child? Who does this child love?
  • Parental preference is considered when assessing possible relatives, but it does not relieve DCBS from the responsibility of exploring all relatives. 
  • Sending the notification letter informs the relative of the child’s removal, but does not imply or guarantee that DCBS has the intent to place. 
  • Diligent attempts are made to identify and notify all adult relatives of a child within 30 calendar days of the temporary removal hearing and of the relatives’ options to become a placement resource for the child unless there is evidence that disclosure of such information could be harmful to the parent or the child. 
  • SOP only establishes a minimum standard for the relative search. Workers should not use the limited search parameters to limit consideration of relatives for placement consideration. For the purposes of placement consideration and consideration for the relative placement support benefit (TANF) eligibility, a relative includes: 
    • A child’s birth or adoptive parent; 
    • A blood relative of the child, including a relative of half-blood; 
    • Legally adopted or birth children of the adoptive parent and other relatives of such parents; 
    • The alleged parent or a relative of the alleged parent may be determined a blood relative through the administrative establishment of paternity; or 
    • A relative by marriage of any person listed in bullet points 2-4 above, even if the marriage has ended. This is true as long as the marriage ended after the child’s birth. 
  • The standard does not require a degree of relatedness, i.e., within a first or second cousin, only that the relative relationship of any degree can be reasonably established. 
  • In reference to #2E above: Although the siblings being placed together would be a relative placement regarding the sibling relationship, it does not meet the TANF guidelines for a "true" relative placement, and therefore, would not be eligible for the relative support benefit.



Procedure

Family Finding
The SSW:
  1. Attempts to identify and notify all adult relatives by utilizing the DPP-1275A Notice to Relative of Removal of a Child form​ within thirty (30) calendar days of the temporary removal hearing, and of the relatives’ options to become a placement resource for the child; 
  2. Includes the following people from the child’s family in the relative search and notification process: 
    1. Parents; 
    2. Grandparents; 
    3. Adult aunts and uncles; 
    4. Adult siblings; and 
    5. All parents of a sibling of a child where such parent has legal custody of such sibling (471(a)(29) of the Social Security Act); 1 
  3. Completes the DPP-1275 Relative Explo​ration form in TWIST, with the family at the ten (10) day conference and at all case planning conferences.  (Please refer to Ten-Day Conference Checklist); 
  4. Utilizes the Absent Parent Searc​h Form​, the Absent Pa​rent Search Handbook, Family Finding Tool, Benefind, criminal background checks, True​PeopleS​earch​, Conne​ct Our Kids, FastPeopleSearch​, and/or other available search mechanisms to complete the relative search; 
  5. Continues to search for relatives beyond the thirty (30) day period when attempts have been unsuccessful, and exploration should occur on an ongoing basis and/or at regularly scheduled OOHC consults to promote permanency and community for the child; 
  6. Provides the Kentucky Relative Care​giver Program Brochure ​​when a relative is located, for information about becoming a potential placement option for the child; 
  7. All family finding efforts should be documented on the DPP-1275 in TWIST; 
  8. Requests the mother complete the Voluntary Affidavit of Paternity at the ten (10) day conference or as soon as the father is identified. Have the form notarized when a father in the case is not known; 2 3 
  9. Writes refused to name and has the material signed and notarized if the mother refuses to disclose or does not know the father; 
  10. Completes and sends the Letter To Fat​her when a potential (unknown) father has been named; 
  11. Upon being contacted by a named potential father, files a petition with the court to compel a paternity test; 
  12. Completes additional relative searches after every OOHC consult to attempt to identify new potential caregivers during the life of the case; and 

  13. Discusses family finding efforts with PCC/PCPs during treatment team meetings.​

Absent Parent Search
The SSW:
  1. Completes the following tasks within the first thirty (30) calendar days of a child entering the custody of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (Cabinet/CHFS): 
    1. Conducts an absent parent search if any legal or biological parent is not present in the home and their whereabouts are questionable; and 
    2. Conducts a relative search and utilizes an absent parent search to locate the relative. 
  2. Includes a state of birth and the names of the individual’s parents on the Abs​ent Parent Search Form for requests in which only a name is available; 
  3. Gathers as much information as possible regarding the absent parent, including: 
    1. Date of birth; 
    2. Social Security number; 
    3. Present or previous employers; 
    4. Present or most recent address;
    5. Any known relatives; 
    6. History of criminal records; 
    7. Other social service agencies involved; and 
    8. Any benefits received; 
  4. Also follows the procedures outlined in SOP C6.28 Determining Who Has Legal Right to the Child; 
  5. Prepares and sends a variety of search letters, and makes phone contact with people who may assist in locating the absent parent; 
  6. Documents in TWIST all attempts, written correspondence, and telephone contact​ to locate the absent parent; 
  7. Considers an absent parent for placement, once located, and offers them an opportunity to participate in treatment planning; 
  8. Refers to the Absent Parent​ and Relative Search Handbook if more details are needed; 
  9. Renews the search for the absent parent at each case planning conference if the absent parent has not been located;
  10. Completes a search of the Putative Father Registry by emailing the DPP-1305, Putative Father Registry Search Request to PutativeFather@ky.gov; and 

  11. If a relative or fictive kin caregiver is identified as a possible placement, SSW will follow SOP C8.1 Relative and Fictive Kin Placement Consideration​. ​


​Footnotes

  1. If a child is placed in OOHC and has a half-sibling, the custodial parent(s) of the half-sibling must be notified and may be considered for the purpose of arranging visitation that will preserve the continuity of the sibling relationship. 
  2. An individual may revoke a voluntary affidavit of paternity upon request. 
  3. If a notary is not available in the local office, the mother may arrange to obtain a notarized copy and provide it to the SSW.

  4. If relatives cannot be found, the SSW may also complete cursory search for fictive kin placements as it could be considered a least restrictive placement.​





Documents

Revisions

​1/18/2023

  • ​DPP-1275 form is to be completed in TWIST. 
7/22/2025
4.  Utilizes the Absent Parent Search Form​, the Absent Parent Search Handbook, Lexis Nexis, Family Finding Tool, Benefind, criminal background checks, TruePeopleSearch​, Connect Our Kids, FastPeopleSearch​, and/or other available search mechanisms to complete the relative search; 

10/9/2025
6.  Provides the Kentucky Relative Caregiver Program Brochure and Child Specific Foster Placement Acknowledgement form​ when a relative is located, for information about becoming a potential placement option for the child; ​