Opinion ID: 1658806
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: parents' motions for psychological and psychiatric evaluations

Text: Both parents assert that the juvenile court erred in failing to order psychological and psychiatric evaluations of the children. Shawn suggests that the State objected to evaluations of the children because it might impinge on adoption proceedings which were already underway. Shawn apparently wanted the evaluations to demonstrate that the children were having emotional difficulties in the foster home. However, he provides no authority for his argument. Holly suggests that the evaluations would have been appropriate pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-258 (Reissue 1998), which provides for preadjudication mental and physical examinations to aid the court in determining the juvenile's physical or mental condition, the juvenile's competence, the juvenile's responsibility for his or her acts, or the need for emergency medical treatment. At the time the parties requested the evaluations, the children had already been adjudicated as juveniles under § 43-247(3)(a). Section 43-258 is not relevant in this case. The only reason to conduct psychological or psychiatric examinations would have been to determine whether the children needed some form of psychological help. Such testing would not have been useful in determining whether the children should be returned to Shawn and Holly. The parents sought the evaluations to show that the children also had emotional problems while in foster care. Even if such a showing had been made, it would not necessarily require that the children be returned to the parental home. We find no authority requiring such evaluations and find no error on the part of the juvenile court for overruling the motions.