Opinion ID: 1316144
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: conservatorship and guardianship

Text: K.S.A. 38-1584 reads in pertinent part: (a) Purpose of section. The purpose of this section is to provide stability in the life of a child who must be removed from the home of a parent, to acknowledge that time perception of a child differs from that of an adult and to make the ongoing physical, mental and emotional needs of the child the decisive consideration in proceedings under this section. The primary goal for all children whose parents' parental rights have been terminated is placement in a permanent family setting. .... (c) Actions by the court. (1) Custody for Adoption. When parental rights have been terminated and it appears that adoption is a viable alternative, the court shall enter one of the following orders: (A) An order granting custody of the child, for adoption proceedings, to a reputable person of good moral character, the secretary or a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Kansas authorized to care for and surrender children for adoption as provided in K.S.A. 38-112 et seq. and amendments thereto. The person, secretary or corporation shall have authority to place the child in a family home, be a party to proceedings and give consent for the legal adoption of the child which shall be the only consent required to authorize the entry of an order or decree of adoption. (B) An order granting custody of the child to proposed adoptive parents and consenting to the adoption of the child by the proposed adoptive parents. (2) Custody for long-term foster care. When parental rights have been terminated and it does not appear that adoption is a viable alternative, the court shall enter an order granting custody of the child for foster care to a reputable person of good moral character, a youth residential facility, the secretary or a corporation or association willing to receive the child, embracing in its objectives the purpose of caring for or obtaining homes for children. (3) Preferences in custody for adoption or long-term foster care. In making an order under subsection (c)(1) or (2), the court shall give preference, to the extent that the court finds it is in the best interests of the child, first to granting such custody to a relative of the child and second to granting such custody to a person with whom the child has close emotional ties. (d) Guardian and conservator of child. The secretary shall be guardian and conservator of any child placed in the secretary's custody, subject to any prior conservatorship. (e) Reports and review of progress. After parental rights have been terminated and up to the time an adoption has been accomplished, the person or agency awarded custody of the child shall within 60 days submit a written plan for permanent placement which shall include measurable objectives and time schedules and shall thereafter not less frequently than each six months make a written report to the court stating the progress having been made toward finding an adoptive or long-term foster care placement for the child. Upon the receipt of each report the court shall review the contents thereof and determine whether or not a hearing should be held on the subject. In any case, the court shall notify all interested parties and hear evidence regarding progress toward finding an adoptive home or the acceptability of the long-term foster care plan within 18 months after parental rights have been terminated and every 12 months thereafter. If the court determines that inadequate progress is being made toward finding an adoptive placement or establishing an acceptable long-term foster care plan, the court may rescind its prior orders and make other orders regarding custody and adoption that are appropriate under the circumstances. Reports of a proposed adoptive placement need not contain the identity of the proposed adoptive parents. (f) Discharge upon adoption. When the adoption of a child has been accomplished, the court shall enter an order discharging the child from the court's jurisdiction in the pending proceedings. Aguilar argues that only two options were available after the parental rights of Nahum were terminated, adoption or long-term foster care. She argues that K.S.A. 38-1584 does not permit a conservatorship and guardianship. She further argues that if the parental rights had not been terminated, a Chapter 38 guardianship would have been an option. K.S.A. 59-3006 authorizes a court to appoint a guardian or conservator for a minor. K.S.A. 59-3006(a)(2) and (b)(3). The statute does not place any restrictions on when a guardian or conservator can be appointed. We recognize Judge Jennifer Jones was attempting to do what she felt was best for the two children. Judge Jones clearly was of the opinion it would be in the children's best interests to remain in Wichita with their cousins. Ample evidence exists to support that concept. If the children were sent to Mexico with the maternal aunt, they would be living with an aunt with whom they had minimal contact prior to their mother's death and with an uncle and cousins with whom they had no prior contact. They would attend a new school and be separated from their childhood friends. A sharp contrast to everything being new and different is the Wichita placement, where they are living with relatives they had visited several times a week and had stayed with overnight many times. They retain childhood friends, retain the same therapist who is helping them deal with the loss of their parents, and continue with their lives. They continue to be bilingual. In addition, the court retains jurisdiction and can change long-term foster care or allow the children to be adopted as the court finds is in the children's best interests. Although the wording could have been more concise, we are convinced that Judge Jones granted the equivalent of long-term foster care by placing the children with Saul and Janet Miguel. The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) is not a party to this appeal and does not object to long-term custody being placed with the Miguels. We find no error on this issue.