NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES VS.
D.P. AND O.B. IN THE MATTER OF V.B.
A-4087-10T4 11-03-11
We reviewed resource parents' appeal of an order denying
their motion to intervene in a best interests hearing, which
considered whether to remove the twenty-month old child from the
resource home, her primary home since birth, or to place her
with a relative. On appeal, the resource parents assert the
trial court erroneously denied intervention, disregarding their
status as "indispensible parties" and their standing as the
child's "psychological parents."
We affirmed, concluding the right to notice of proceedings
and to inform the court granted to resource parents by the
Legislature in N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.19a, does not impart a legal
interest or an expectation to engage experts, demand discovery,
appear in the action, or cross-examine witnesses. We are
convinced the limited and temporary character of foster care
remains the legislative policy of this State. The trial court
fully abided all statutory provisions governing a resource
parent's participation in litigation involving a child entrusted
to their care by the Division, granting the resource parents all
process they were due.
