The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
002
:
PERSONS FOR WHOM GUARDIANS APPOINTED
(Cite as: 14 V.S.A. § 2634)
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§ 2634. Department for Children and Families policy
The Department for Children and Families shall adopt a policy defining its role with
respect to families who establish a guardianship under this article. The policy shall
be consistent with the following principles:
(1) The Family Services Division shall maintain a policy ensuring that when a child must
be removed from his or her home to ensure the child’s safety, the Division will pursue
a CHINS procedure promptly if there are sufficient grounds under 33 V.S.A. § 5102.
(2) When the Family Services Division is conducting an investigation or assessment related
to child safety and the child may be a child in need of care and supervision as defined
in 33 V.S.A. § 5102(3), the Division shall not make any recommendation regarding whether a family should
pursue a minor guardianship. The staff may provide referrals to community-based resources
for information regarding minor guardianships.
(3) In response to a request from the Probate judge, the Family Services Division social
worker shall attend a minor guardianship hearing and provide information relevant
to the proceeding.
(4) If a minor guardianship is established during the time that the Family Services Division
has an open case involving the minor, the social worker shall inform the guardian
and the parents about services and supports available to them in the community and
shall close the case within a reasonable time unless a specific safety risk is identified. (Added 2013, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2014.)