Section 15-11-135. (Effective January 1, 2014) Placement in eligible foster care

   (a) A child taken into custody shall not be placed in foster care prior to the hearing on a petition for dependency unless:

   (1) Foster care is required to protect the child;

   (2) The child has no parent, guardian, or legal custodian or other person able to provide supervision and care and return him or her to the court when required; or

   (3) An order for the child's foster care has been made by the court.

(b) No child alleged to be or adjudicated as a dependent child shall be detained in any jail, adult lockup, or adult detention facility, nor shall a child be detained in a secure residential facility or nonsecure residential facility unless a child is also alleged to have committed a delinquent act or adjudicated to be a delinquent child and the court determines that the requirements for detention under Article 6 of this chapter are met.

(c) An alleged dependent child may be placed in foster care only in:

   (1) A licensed or approved foster home or a home approved by the court which may be a public or private home or the home of the child's noncustodial parent or of a relative;

   (2) A facility operated by a licensed child welfare agency; or

   (3) A licensed shelter care facility approved by the court.

(d) The actual physical placement of a child pursuant to this Code section shall require the approval of the judge of the juvenile court or his or her designee.

(e) In any case in which a child is taken into protective custody of DFCS, such child shall be placed together with his or her siblings who are also in protective custody or DFCS shall include a statement in its report and case plan of continuing efforts to place the siblings together or why such efforts are not appropriate. If siblings are not placed together, DFCS shall provide for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction between siblings, unless DFCS documents that such frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings.

Code 1981, § 15-11-135, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.