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4 <br />Attachment <br />1997 Statutory Changes Enacted By <br />The North Carolina General Assembly <br />Change: All children in the home are considered victim children when a report of <br />abuse or neglect is received and must be seen within the established <br />timeframes. <br />Impact: Dramatically increases the number of children who must be seen within the <br />24/72 hour timeframes by requiring more immediate assessment of all <br />children in the home. <br />Change: The grounds for termination of parental rights was amended to facilitate <br />permanence for children in cases where the parents are not making progress <br />toward reunification. <br />Impact: More children will be freed for adoption requiring more recruitment and <br />retention of foster care and adoptive homes. <br />Change: The definition of a neglected juvenile was amended to state that it is <br />relevant if the child lives in a home where another child has been abused or <br />neglected. <br />Impact: This should result in more children being assessed for their need for <br />protective services. It also provides the legal basis for including other <br />children in the home in a neglect petition. <br />Change: The definition of a dependent juvenile was broadened by deleting reference <br />to "physical or mental incapacity" as the cause of the parent's inability to <br />provide for a child. <br />Impact: This broadens the legal basis for finding a child dependent. <br />Additional Note: President Clinton has signed The Adoption and Safe Families Act of <br />1997 providing for increased focus on safety and permanence for children. The impact of <br />this is not really known at this time. However, it is clear that there is substantial interest at <br />all levels in providing safety and permanence for children. <br />