What is the maximum length of time a child may be held in candidate status?
Answer 8: Pursuant to Departmental Appeals Board Decision No. 844, the Department has instructed States to cease claiming Federal reimbursement when the State determines, at any point prior to the removal of a child from home, that such child is no longer a candidate. By definition, a candidate is a child for whom the State is either pursuing or making reasonable efforts to prevent a removal, suggesting a child may be considered a candidate only for a finite period of time. The maximum length of time a child may be considered a candidate is not prescribed; however, a State must document its justification for retaining a child in candidate status for longer than six months.
