Supreme Court appoints Vanessa Dudley-Miller to Task Force on Permanency Planning

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed Vanessa Dudley-Miller to an unexpired term on the Supreme Court Task Force on Permanency Planning.

Dudley-Miller, Topeka, is executive director of Kansas Court Appointed Special Advocates. Her term ends June 30, 2023.

The Supreme Court established the working task force in 1984. It advises the court on ways to provide for and improve the care of children who are under jurisdiction of the court. Its responsibilities include:

• developing and implementing a strategic plan for child welfare oversight;

• collaborating with district courts, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and Native American tribes in Kansas;

• developing and implementing statewide legal training; and

• reviewing federally funded child and family services.

Overall, the task force recommends improvements and suggests programs that help children placed in foster care find safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

The 18-member task force includes district court judges; district magistrate judges; lawyers; court-appointed guardians; prosecutors; and representatives from Indian tribal courts, state agencies, Court Appointed Special Advocates, citizen review boards, and mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse treatment providers.