Certified Case Manager Practice Test

Which of the following is a legislative goal for dependent children?

1. To ensure permanent families

2. To mandate schools to provide counseling

3. To require reasonable efforts before child removal

4. To encourage adoption without screening

The correct answer is: To require reasonable efforts before child removal

The goal to require reasonable efforts before child removal is pivotal in protecting the rights of dependent children and promoting family stability. This legislative approach is primarily aimed at ensuring that all alternatives to removing a child from their home are thoroughly explored and implemented before taking such a drastic step. The intent behind this legislation is to minimize the trauma and disruption that can occur in a child’s life when they are removed from their familiar environment. In many jurisdictions, this requirement is rooted in the belief that children fare better when they can remain in their families, provided that the family environment is safe, nurturing, and capable of meeting the child’s needs. By mandating reasonable efforts to keep families intact, the focus shifts towards family preservation, providing support services, and addressing the underlying issues that may lead to potential neglect or abuse, rather than resorting to immediate removal. Other options, while important in their own right, do not specifically align with the legislative focus on the preservation of family structures and minimizing removals. For instance, ensuring permanent families speaks to the end goal of such legislation but does not encapsulate the proactive steps required. Mandating schools to provide counseling or encouraging adoption without screening falls outside the legislative framework focused on protecting the immediate welfare of dependent children in terms of