8-808

8-808. Parent assistance program

A. A parent assistance program is established in the administrative office of the
supreme court for the purpose of providing information to and assisting parents or
guardians in understanding the process of removal of a child from the home. The
administrative office of the supreme court shall establish parent assistance offices in
counties having a population of four hundred thousand persons or more and shall provide
twenty-four hour telephone hot line access statewide.

B. The administrative office of the supreme court shall hire and employ staff,
subject to legislative appropriation, for purposes relating to the functions of the
parent assistance program.

C. The parent assistance program shall provide the following information to parents
or guardians:

1. The parents' or guardians' legal rights, including the right to attend court or
foster care review board hearings, and the child's legal rights.

2. The means for accessing personnel who can provide information on:

(a) The well-being of the child who is removed from the home.

(b) The community resources that are available.

3. The procedures for requesting an attorney or a temporary custody hearing and the
consequences of failure to make the request.

D. The administrative office of the supreme court shall maintain current statistics
on the utilization of and types of calls received by the parent assistance program. The
administrative office of the supreme court shall make the information available to the
public on request and on the administrative office of the supreme court's web site.

E. The administrative office of the supreme court shall coordinate efforts with the
department of economic security to provide each parent or guardian with written notice of
the services offered by the parent assistance program at the time initial contact is made
with a family.