Florida law establishes specific procedures and timelines for conducting a diligent search to locate absent parents. Child welfare professionals are required to conduct diligent search activities to identify and locate any absent parent until they are located or released by the court. These efforts should begin immediately when a parent’s whereabouts are unknown. All attempts to find a parent must be documented, including the names of those contacted, as well as the methods used to reach them.

Why is this important?

Absent parents retain legal rights. Failure to conduct and document diligent search efforts negatively impacts the child, delays permanency, and can create legal obstacles.

Types of Initial Efforts to Locate an Absent Parent:

• Attempts to contact last known addresses/phone numbers (Record dates and details of calls, emails, and visits including addresses/phone numbers in FSFN)
• Contact known relatives and friends
• Request demographic details or personal history that may lead to the parent’s whereabouts.
• Contact jails
  • VINELink is a resource to search for jail custody status and criminal court information.
  • Review available jail databases to identify active inmates
• Contact the parent’s current or recent employer
• Visit locations the parent is known to frequent
• Send certified mail to the last known address

If initial attempts by the child welfare professional to locate an absent parent are unsuccessful, then a formal Diligent Search will be initiated. During this process, the child welfare professional will continue their efforts to locate the parent and will document the actions and outcomes.

Types of Second-Tier Diligent Search Efforts:

• Search Department of Children and Families (DCF) records
• Access available databases that may contain their current address/phone numbers
• Check online government records
• Search Florida’s Putative Father Registry
• Contact utility companies
• Review statewide court records

Outcomes of the Diligent Search Process

• A list of telephone numbers and physical addresses generated for further verification by the child welfare professional.
• Valid contacts obtained to facilitate the delivery of official court notifications to the absent parent to appear in court.

Sources: Florida Administrative Code: Rule 65C-30.003, Florida Statutes: §§ 39.01(24), 39.502, 39.503, 39.803, 63.054, CFOP 170-1