The 13th Circuit will recognize their accomplishment of receiving the Supreme Court of Missouri Permanency award at its monthly Fostering Court Improvement meeting on at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Boone County Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room, 705 East Walnut, Columbia.
This is the 10th time the 13th Circuit, which includes Boone and Callaway counties, has received the Permanency Award. The Permanency Award is given to circuits in recognition of excellence in service to children and families by achieving standards for timely hearings in child abuse and neglect cases in which children removed from their homes are to be reunited with their families or are to be placed in another permanent home as soon as possible.
The hearing time frames apply to six types of hearings and vary depending on the type of hearing. For example, when a child is taken into protective custody, an initial hearing must be held within three business days, the allegations must be proven within 60 days, and a disposition entered within 90 days. If the child remains in protective custody, the court must hold periodic reviews until the child is reunited with its natural parents, is adopted or another permanent placement is made. These time frames were developed based on recommendations from the Commission on Children's Justice.