Final answer:
The Division of Family and Children's Services must show that it has made reasonable efforts to either keep the family together or find a permanent home for a child. This involves evaluating factors such as sibling unity and the child's wellbeing to satisfy the legal requirements of the child welfare system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Division of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) carries a crucial responsibility in child welfare cases to demonstrate that it has made reasonable efforts to preserve or reunite families, or to find alternative permanent homes for children when reunification is not possible. This mandate is core to the child welfare system, acknowledging that every child deserves the security and stability of a family environment. The reasonable efforts requirement is a legal standard referenced in multiple statutes and regulations aimed at protecting the wellbeing of children while respecting familial bonds.
Research indicates that maintaining proximity to parents and keeping siblings together can be vital for a child's wellbeing, especially in situations like divorce or separation. Therefore, DFCS must take into consideration the impact that various placement decisions have on the emotional and psychological development of the child. Factors such as the length of time in foster care, efforts to keep siblings together, and attention to the specific needs of children with disabilities or older children are important considerations in determining if DFCS has met the reasonable efforts standard.