1. For the purposes of this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, “reasonable efforts” means the efforts made to prevent permanent removal of a child from the child’s home and to encourage reunification of the child with the child’s parents and family. Reasonable efforts shall include but are not limited to giving consideration, if appropriate, to interstate placement of a child in the permanency planning decisions involving the child and giving consideration to in-state and out-of-state placement options at a permanency hearing and when using concurrent planning. If a court order includes a determination that continuation of the child in the child’s home is not appropriate or not possible, reasonable efforts may include the efforts made in a timely manner to finalize a permanency plan for the child.
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Terms Used In Iowa Code 232.57

  • Child: means any person under the age of eighteen years. See Iowa Code 232.68
  • Court: means the juvenile court established under section 602. See Iowa Code 232.2
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Parent: means a biological or adoptive mother or father of a child; or a father whose paternity has been established by operation of law due to the individual's marriage to the mother at the time of conception, birth, or at any time during the period between conception and birth of the child, by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or by administrative order when authorized by state law. See Iowa Code 232.2
 2. If the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that aggravated circumstances exist, with written findings of fact based upon evidence in the record, the court may waive the requirement for making reasonable efforts. The existence of aggravated circumstances is indicated by any of the following:

 a. The parent has abandoned the child.
 b. The court finds the circumstances described in section 232.116, subsection 1, paragraph “i”, are applicable to the child.
 c. The parent’s parental rights have been terminated under section 232.116 with respect to another child who is a member of the same family, and there is clear and convincing evidence to show that the offer or receipt of services would not be likely within a reasonable period of time to correct the conditions which led to the child’s removal.
 d. The parent has been convicted of the murder of another child.
 e. The parent has been convicted of the voluntary manslaughter of another child.
 f. The parent has been convicted of aiding or abetting, attempting, conspiring in, or soliciting the commission of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of another child.
 g. The parent has been convicted of a felony assault which resulted in serious bodily injury of the child or of another child.
 3. Any order entered under this subchapter may include findings regarding reasonable efforts.