649 Days in Foster Care! We've all seen the signs that children hold on the day of their adoption. So why does it take so long? The reason rests in a thing called Permanency. In all cases, except those where there are "aggravating circumstances," the first goal in child welfare cases is Reunification with the parent(s). The length of time given to parents to make themselves and their environments safe and appropriate for raising a child depends on many factors. Listen in as Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill discuss the process of Permanency and the court hearings that ultimately determine when it is safe to go home or when it is time to find a new forever home. After a child has been adjudicated as neglected or abused, the Youth Court oversees that child's path to a permanent situation. Every case has a "Permanency Plan" and it is the Judge's job to monitor the progress towards accomplishing that plan. For some, the journey will bring a healthy reunification with parents who have worked hard to resolve poverty, drug addiction, mental health problems or other circumstances that caused the loss of custody. For others, the journey will end with a permanent solution in adoption or durable legal custody. The Youth Court is the gatekeeper of foster care. Although others in the system are responsible for the progress along the journey, or the lack thereof, the Youth Court Judge plays a critical role in holding everyone accountable to do their part towards a permanent solution.

Opening your home to an abused or neglected child and committing to love that child knowing that one day you may have to say goodbye is truly a calling. Judge O'Neal sat down to have a conversation with foster parents who went through the process in her court. Their case is closed now and all identities have been kept confidential. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent in Mississippi, you can find information here: https://www.mdcps.ms.gov/foster-and-adoptive-parents/foster-parent-resources

Children deserve their day in court! For every allegation of abuse, neglect, delinquency, truancy, child in need of supervision or special care, the youth court decides the merits of the case in an ADJUDICATION hearing. The adjudication hearing is the "trial" in youth court. Parties are entitled to subpoena witnesses and be represented by an attorney. Parties can choose to admit or deny the allegations rather than pleading "guilty" or "not guilty." Judge O'Neal and Judge Bevill discuss the importance of due process and the importance of making sure that any admission is a knowing, willing, voluntary and a truthful admission. The Mississippi statutes controlling the procedure around adjudication hearings can be found in Miss. Code § 43-21-551 through § 43-21-561.

Proposed amendments to the Youth Court Rules regarding service of process can be found at https://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/rulesforcomment/rulesforcomment.php