Best Interests of the Child

Statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 19-1-102(1), (1.5) (West Supp. 1998)

Laws:

The General Assembly declares that the purposes of this title are:

To secure for each child subject to these provisions such care and guidance, preferably in his own home, as will best serve his welfare and the interests of society;

To preserve and strengthen family ties whenever possible, including improvement of home environment;

To remove a child from the custody of his parents only when his welfare and safety or the protection of the public would otherwise be endangered and, in either instance, for the courts to proceed with all possible speed to a legal determination that will serve the best interests of the child; and

To secure for any child removed from the custody of his parents the necessary care, guidance, and discipline to assist him in becoming a responsible and productive member of society.

The General Assembly declares that it is in the best interests of the child who has been removed from his own home to have the following guarantees:

To be placed in a secure and stable environment;
To not be indiscriminately moved from foster home to foster home; and

To have assurance of long-term permanency planning.

Concurrent Planning

Statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 19-3-508(7) (West, WESTLAW through Colo. 2003 Legis. Serv., Ch. 158 & 409)

Law:

Efforts to place a child for adoption or with a legal guardian or custodian may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify the family.