9.03.030 Assessment of Child and Report

(a) Assessment required in contested actions. A Court with jurisdiction of a contested suit for involuntary termination shall order an assessment of needs of the child who is the subject of the suit. Such assessment shall be conducted by a non-party agency selected by the Court.

(b) Time for completion of assessment; Court's use of report. A report of the assessment shall be submitted within thirty days after the Court directive, unless the Court grants a request for an extension. The report may be introduced into evidence in accordance with the rules of evidence. In the absence of an objection, the report may be used by the Court whether or not introduced into evidence, in deciding whether the petition for involuntary termination of parental rights shall be granted.

(c) Contents of Assessments. The assessment shall include but not be limited to the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the child and parents, history of intra-family relationships, services offered in an attempt to reunify the family, the proposed plan to meet the special needs of the child, and the wishes of the child according to his maturity of judgment.