B.  Before Hearing


C.R.S. § 19-3-702(2)
Notice of the permanency hearing must be given. The notice must state the constitutional and legal rights of the child and the children’s parents or guardians.

People in the Interest of A.W.R., 17 P.3d 192 (Colo. App. 2000)
In A.W.R., the Court of Appeals held that the juvenile court properly limited the role of the foster mother at the permanency planning hearing to providing testimony only as to the child’s physical, mental, and emotional conditions, although the foster mother had been allowed to intervene as a matter of right earlier in the case. 

Id., citing Smith v. Org. of Foster Families, 431 U.S. 816 (1977)
Because the permanent plan for the child was return home, the foster mother did not have a constitutionally protected liberty interest that entitled her to full participation in the proceedings. 

People in the Interest of C.M., 116 P.3d 1278 (Colo. App. 2005)
However, A.W.R. is distinguished by C.M., which held that an award of permanent custody to a non-parent may be made even if a parent is fit.

C.R.S. § 19-3-702(2)
County DHS must prepare a permanency plan. It must be submitted to all parties at least three court days before the hearing.

C.R.S. § 19-3-702(1.5)
45 C.F.R. § 1355.20(a)

The court should order the parties to attend the permanency hearing. Under federal and state law, a full hearing is required.

If DHS is frequently not prepared for permanency hearings, the court facilitator may set up a staffing before each hearing to discuss permanency options for the child. Alternatively, the court may order the DHS caseworker to conduct a staffing fifteen to thirty days before the hearing.