Sec. 6. (a) If consistent with the safety of the community and the best interest of the child, the juvenile court shall enter a dispositional decree that: (1) is: (A) in the least restrictive (most family like) and most appropriate setting available; and (B) close to the parents' home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of the child; (2) least interferes with family autonomy; (3) is least disruptive of family life; (4) imposes the least restraint on the freedom of the child and the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; (5) provides a reasonable opportunity for participation by the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; and (6) provides a reasonable opportunity for the child's parent who: (A) is incarcerated; and (B) has maintained a meaningful role in the child's life; to maintain a relationship with the child. (b) In determining whether reunification of a child with a parent, guardian, or custodian from whom the child has been removed is in the child's best interest, a court shall do the following: (1) The court shall determine whether reunifying the child with the parent, guardian, or custodian will result in separation of the child from a sibling of the child. (2) If the court determines under subdivision (1) that reunifying the child with the parent, guardian, or custodian will result in separation of the child from a sibling of the child, the court shall consider whether separating the child from the child's sibling is in the child's best interest. [Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-6-4-15.3(e) part.]
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