Juvenile Dependency

One of the cases involved in this division court is:

Juvenile Dependency:

Abuse and neglect cases concern family situations where allegations of abuse or neglect have been made, and the juvenile court intervenes to protect the family's children.

One of the goals of the Dependency Court is:

to have matters regarding children resolved as quickly as possible,

always striving to do what is in the Best Interest of the Children. If a child becomes a dependent of the court, the court will make orders for the parent, the child, and the social worker, so that the child will be protected.

As a court dependent:

• The court may allow the child to reside in the family home under court supervision; or
• The court may place the child outside of the family home.

If during the time a child is a dependent of the court, reunification services are not ordered, or reunification efforts fail, the child could be adopted.