Supreme Court appoints four, reappoints two to permanency planning task force

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court appointed four new members and reappointed two current members to the Supreme Court Task Force on Permanency Planning.  

New members are:  

• District Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, serving in Morris County of the 8th Judicial District, to serve through June 30, 2025.  

• Todd Heitschmidt, court administrator, 28th Judicial District, composed of Ottawa and Saline counties, to serve through June 30, 2026. 

• Heather Alwin, Colby, attorney, to serve through June 30, 2027. 

• Vivien Olsen, assistant general counsel, Prevention and Protection Services, Kansas Department for Children and Families, to serve through June 30, 2027.  

Members reappointed to serve through June 30, 2027, are:  

• Caitlyn Eakin, state director, Kansas CASA Association. 

• Vicki Ford, court services officer, 29th Judicial District, which is Wyandotte County. 

The Supreme Court established the working task force in 1984. It advises the court on ways to 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 21-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.