(a) If an Indian child is removed from the physical custody of their parents or Indian custodian pursuant to Section 361, the childâs placement shall comply with this section. The placement shall be analyzed each time there is a change in placement. (b) Any foster care or guardianship placement of an Indian child, or any emergency removal of a child who is known to be, or if there is reason to know that the child is, an Indian child shall be in the least restrictive setting that most approximates a family situation and in which the childâs special needs, if any, may be met. The child shall also be placed within reasonable proximity to the childâs home, taking into account any special needs of the child. Preference shall be given to the childâs placement with one of the following, in descending priority order: (1) A member of the childâs extended family, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 224.1 and Section 1903 of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.). (2) A foster home licensed, approved, or specified by the childâs Indian tribe. (3) An Indian foster home licensed or approved by an authorized non-Indian licensing authority. (4) An institution for children approved by an Indian tribe or operated by an Indian organization that has a program suitable to meet the Indian childâs needs. (c) In any adoptive placement of an Indian child, preference shall be given to a placement with one of the following, in descending priority order: (1) A member of the childâs extended family, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 224.1 and Section 1903 of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.). (2) Other members or citizens of the childâs Indian tribe. (3) Another Indian family. (d) Notwithstanding the placement preferences listed in subdivisions (b) and (c), if a different order of placement preference is established by the childâs Indian tribe, the court shall give full faith and credit to the preference established by the tribe, as they would to the laws of another state under the United States Constitution, and the agency effecting the placement shall follow that order of preference, so long as the placement is the least restrictive setting appropriate to the particular needs of the child as provided in subdivision (b). (e) Where appropriate, the placement preference of the Indian child, if of sufficient age, or parent shall be considered. In applying the preferences, a consenting parentâs request for anonymity shall also be given weight by the court or agency effecting the placement. (f) The prevailing social and cultural standards of the Indian community in which the parent or extended family members of an Indian child reside, or with which the parent or extended family members maintain social and cultural ties, or the prevailing social and cultural standards of the Indian childâs tribe shall be applied in meeting the placement preferences under this section. A determination of the applicable prevailing social and cultural standards may be confirmed by the Indian childâs tribe or by the testimony or other documented support of a qualified expert witness, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 224.6, who is knowledgeable regarding the social and cultural standards of the Indian community. (g) Any person, county welfare agency, or probation department involved in the placement of an Indian child shall conduct a diligent search for placements that meet the placement preferences and use the services of the Indian childâs tribe, whenever available through the tribe, in seeking to secure placement within the order of placement preference established in this section and in the supervision of the placement. The responsibility for seeking a placement consistent with subdivision (b), (c), and (d) shall remain with the person, county welfare agency, or probation department seeking the placement. (h) If a party asserts that good cause not to fol
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