(a) The court shall make written findings as to whether the Department of Human Services has made reasonable efforts or, if the Indian Child Welfare Act applies, active efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child or ward from the home and to make it possible for the child or ward to safely return home. When the court finds that no services were provided but that reasonable services would not have eliminated the need for protective custody, the court shall consider the department to have made reasonable efforts or, if the Indian Child Welfare Act applies, active efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for protective custody. The court shall include in the written findings a brief description of the preventive and reunification efforts made by the department.

(b) In determining whether a child or ward shall be removed or continued out of home, the court shall consider whether the provision of reasonable services can prevent or eliminate the need to separate the family.

(c) In determining whether the department has made reasonable efforts or, if the Indian Child Welfare Act applies, active efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child or ward from the home and to make it possible for the child or ward to safely return home, the court shall consider the child or ward’s health and safety the paramount concerns.

(d) The court shall make a written finding in every order of removal that describes why it is in the best interests of the child or ward that the child or ward be removed from the home or continued in care.

(e) When the court determines that a child or ward shall be removed from the home or continued in care, the court shall make written findings whether the department made diligent efforts pursuant to ORS 419B.192. The court shall include in its written findings a brief description of the efforts made by the department.

(f) The court shall determine whether the child or ward is an Indian child as defined in ORS 419A.004 or in the applicable State-Tribal Indian Child Welfare Agreement.

(g) The court may receive testimony, reports and other evidence without regard to whether the evidence is admissible under ORS 40.010 to 40.210 and 40.310 to 40.585 if the evidence is relevant to the determinations and findings required under this section. As used in this paragraph, "relevant evidence" has the meaning given that term in ORS 40.150.

(2) To aid the court in making the written findings required by subsection (1)(a), (d) and (e) of this section, the department shall present written documentation to the court outlining:

(a) The efforts made to prevent taking the child or ward into protective custody and to provide services to make it possible for the child or ward to safely return home;

(b) The efforts the department made pursuant to ORS 419B.192; and

(c) Why protective custody is in the best interests of the child or ward. [1993 c.33 §71; 1993 c.295 §5; 1993 c.546 §123; 1997 c.873 §19; 1999 c.859 §8; 2001 c.686 §3; 2003 c.355 §1; 2003 c.396 §42; 2007 c.806 §4; 2019 c.382 §16; 2019 c.594 §10]