US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

40-10B-2. Policy; purpose.

A.     It is the policy of the state that the interests of children are best served when they are raised by their parents. When neither parent is able or willing to provide appropriate care, guidance and supervision to a child, it is the policy of the state that, whenever possible, a child should be raised by family members or kinship caregivers.   

B.     The Kinship Guardianship Act is intended to address those cases where a parent has left a child or children in the care of another for ninety consecutive days and that arrangement leaves the child or children without appropriate care, guidance or supervision.   

C.     The purposes of the Kinship Guardianship Act [ 40-10B-1 NMSA 1978] are to:   

(1)     establish procedures to effect a legal relationship between a child and a kinship caregiver when the child is not residing with either parent; and   

(2)     provide a child with a stable and consistent relationship with a kinship caregiver that will enable the child to develop physically, mentally and emotionally to the maximum extent possible when the child's parents are not willing or able to do so.