(1) Within 30 calendar days of the removal of a child from the physical custody of his or her parent or guardian, the child protective investigator (CPI) shall initiate a diligent search to identify and locate any absent parent.
    (a) If the child remains in out-of-home care following closure of an investigation by a CPI, the case manager shall continue diligent search activities until released by the court.
    (b) In addition, the CPI shall initiate and the case manager shall continue diligent efforts to locate and provide notice to the following relatives: all adult grandparents, all parents of a sibling of the child, where such parent has legal custody of such sibling, and other adult relatives of the child (including any other adult relatives suggested by the parents).
    (2) Other Diligent Search Activities.
    (a) When a child is in an out-of-home placement with a relative or non-relative and the placement disrupts, the child welfare professional shall make diligent efforts to locate an adult relative, legal custodian or other appropriate adult willing and able to care for the child.
    (b) When the diligent search involves an American Indian or Alaskan Native child, documentation of written correspondence with the child’s tribe and to the Secretary of the Interior through the Eastern Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall be included in the case file by the case manager and included in the court record.
Rulemaking Authority 39.012, 39.0121(12), (13) FS. Law Implemented 39.502(8), (9) FS. History-New 5-4-06, Amended 2-25-16.