78A-2-704. Public policy regarding attorney guardian ad litem -- Training.
(1) An attorney guardian ad litem may not presume that a child and the child's parent are adversaries.
(2) An attorney guardian ad litem shall be trained on and implement into practice: the parental rights and child and family protection principles provided in Section; 80-2a-201 the fundamental liberties of parents and the public policy of the state to support family unification to the fullest extent possible; the constitutionally protected rights of parents, in cases where the state is a party; the use of a least restrictive means analysis regarding state claims of a compelling child welfare interest; the priority of maintaining a child safely in the child's home, whenever possible; the importance of: kinship placement, if the child is removed from the home; and keeping sibling groups together, whenever practicable and in the best interests of the children; the preference for kinship adoption over nonkinship adoption, if the parent-child relationship is legally terminated; the potential for a guardianship placement if the parent-child relationship is legally terminated and no appropriate adoption placement is available; and the use of an individualized permanency plan, only as a last resort.
(3) The office shall implement policies and practice guidelines that reflect the priorities described in Subsectionsthroughfor the placement of children. (2)(e) (i)