After receiving and considering the evidence on the proper disposition of the case, the juvenile court may enter judgment as follows:
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the court finds that the child is a person described by Section 300 and the parent has advised the court that the parent is not interested in family maintenance or family reunification services, it may, in addition to or in lieu of adjudicating the child a dependent child of the court, order a legal guardianship, appoint a legal guardian, and issue letters of guardianship, if the court determines that a guardianship is in the best interest of the child, provided the parent and the child agree to the guardianship, unless the child's age or physical, emotional, or mental condition prevents the child's meaningful response. The court shall advise the parent and the child that no reunification services will be provided as a result of the establishment of a guardianship. The proceeding for the appointment of a guardian shall be in the juvenile court.
Any application for termination of guardianship shall be filed in juvenile court in a form as may be developed by the Judicial Council pursuant to Section 68511 of the Government Code. Section 388 shall apply to this order of guardianship.
No person shall be appointed a legal guardian under this section until an assessment as specified in subdivision (g) of Section 361.5 is read and considered by the court and reflected in the minutes of the court. The assessment shall include the following:
(1)Current search efforts for, and notification of, a noncustodial parent in the manner provided in Section 291.
(2)A review of the amount of and nature of any contact between the child and his or her parents since the filing of the petition.
(3)An evaluation of the child's medical, developmental, scholastic, mental, and emotional status.
(4)A preliminary assessment of the eligibility and commitment of any identified prospective guardian, particularly the caretaker, to include a social history including a screening for criminal records and prior referrals for child abuse or neglect, the capability to meet the child's needs, and the understanding of the legal and financial rights and responsibilities of guardianship.
(5)The relationship of the child to any identified prospective guardian, the duration and nature of the relationship, the motivation for seeking guardianship, and a statement from the child concerning the guardianship, unless the child's age or physical, emotional, or other condition precludes the child's meaningful response, and if so, a description of the condition.
(6)An analysis of the likelihood that the child would be adopted if parental rights were terminated.
The person responsible for preparing the assessment may be called and examined by any party to the guardianship proceeding.
(b)If the court finds that the child is a person described by Section 300, it may, without adjudicating the child a dependent child of the court, order that services be provided to keep the family together and place the child and the child's parent or guardian under the supervision of the social worker for a time period consistent with Section 301.
(c)If the family subsequently is unable or unwilling to cooperate with the services being provided, the social worker may file a petition with the juvenile court pursuant to Section 332 alleging that a previous petition has been sustained and that disposition pursuant to subdivision (b) has been ineffective in ameliorating the situation requiring the child welfare services. Upon hearing the petition, the court shall order either that the petition shall be dismissed or that a new disposition hearing shall be held pursuant to subdivision (d).
(d)If the court finds that the child is a person described by Section 300, it may order and adjudge the child to be a dependent child of the court.