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In the Interest of J. W. K.

The juvenile court erred in awarding temporary legal custody of the child to his paternal aunt and uncle for a period of two years without establishing a reunification plan between the child and his mother as required under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-58.

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The mother of J. W. K. appeals from an order of the Juvenile Court finding her nine-year-old child was deprived and awarding temporary legal custody of the child to the child’s paternal aunt and uncle for a period of two years. The mother claims the Juvenile Court lacked jurisdiction and that the disposition portion of the order awarding custody of the child failed to comply with statutory requirements for efforts to reunify her with the child. Although we find the Juvenile Court properly exercised jurisdiction, we conclude that the disposition portion of the Court’s order failed to comply with the requirements of OCGA § 15-11-58 regarding efforts, if appropriate, to reunify the mother and child. Accordingly, we affirm the portion of the order finding the child was deprived, reverse the disposition portion of the order, and remand the case to the Juvenile Court for consideration of the requirements of § 15-11-58 in the disposition of the child.

1. The mother first challenges the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, asserting that this is in reality a custody dispute and therefore should have been brought in the superior court. This contention is without merit.

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