Social Study Prior to Disposition

Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall direct that a social study be made either by social service personnel attached to the court or by the Division and that a report in writing of such study be submitted to the court prior to the hearing, except that where COL 6/21/2023 CH. 4 PARENT AND CHILD the Division is a petitioner, either in its own right or on behalf of a parent, a report in writing of the social study made by the Division shall accompany the petition. The court may order such additional social studies as it deems necessary. The social study shall include the circumstances of the petition, the social history, the present condition of the child and parents, proposed plans for the child, and such other facts as may be pertinent to the parentchild relationship. It shall also include a recommendation and the reasons therefore as to whether or not the parent-child relationship should be terminated. Where the parent is a minor, if the report does not include a statement of contract with the parents of said minor, the reasons, therefore, shall be set forth.