Montana Title 41. Minors § 41-3-126. Child protection investigator and child reunification specialist--scope of authority

(a) investigating reported allegations of child abuse or neglect under the requirements of 41-3-202;

(b) removing a child under the requirements of 41-3-301;

(c) participating in a prehearing conference under 41-3-307;

(d) furnishing an affidavit to support a petition filed under 41-3-422 for the relief available under 41-3-422(1)(a);

(e) testifying to the facts surrounding an investigation of child abuse or neglect and removal of a child or reasonable efforts to prevent removal of a child at:

(f) engaging in reasonable efforts to prevent the necessity of removal of a child, as provided in 41-3-423;  and

(g) participating on behalf of the department in formal or informal proceedings related to an investigation of child abuse or neglect or removal of a child in which the facts surrounding an investigation or removal are at issue and the facts surrounding an investigation or removal are not prohibited from disclosure.

(a) participating in a prehearing conference under 41-3-307;

(b) testifying to the facts surrounding a temporary or permanent placement of a child or reasonable efforts to reunify a family at:

(c) engaging in reasonable efforts to reunify families that are separated by the state, as provided in 41-3-423;

(d) determining the appropriate placement for a child, as provided in 41-3-440;

(e) documenting and reporting the requirements of a treatment plan and the progress of a parent or parents toward completion of a treatment plan, as provided in 41-3-443;

(f) investigating and evaluating the availability of placement preferences and exceptions to placement preferences, as provided in 41-3-450 and 41-3-451;  and

(g) participating on behalf of the department in formal or informal proceedings related to a placement or reunification of a child in which the facts surrounding a placement or reunification are at issue and the facts surrounding a placement or reunification are not prohibited from disclosure.