§ 7B-904. Authority over parents of juvenile adjudicated as abused, neglected, or dependent. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 7B‑904.  Authorityover parents of juvenile adjudicated as abused, neglected, or dependent.

(a)        If the court ordersmedical, surgical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment pursuant toG.S. 7B‑903, the court may order the parent or other responsible partiesto pay the cost of the treatment or care ordered.

(b)        At thedispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing if the court finds that it is inthe best interests of the juvenile for the parent, guardian, custodian,stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult relativeentrusted with the juvenile's care to be directly involved in the juvenile'streatment, the court may order the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent,adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult relative entrusted with thejuvenile's care to participate in medical, psychiatric, psychological, or othertreatment of the juvenile. The cost of the treatment shall be paid pursuant toG.S. 7B‑903.

(c)        At thedispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing the court may determine whetherthe best interests of the juvenile require that the parent, guardian,custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adultrelative entrusted with the juvenile's care undergo psychiatric, psychological,or other treatment or counseling directed toward remediating or remedyingbehaviors or conditions that led to or contributed to the juvenile'sadjudication or to the court's decision to remove custody of the juvenile fromthe parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile'shousehold, or adult relative entrusted with the juvenile's care. If the courtfinds that the best interests of the juvenile require the parent, guardian,custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adultrelative entrusted with the juvenile's care undergo treatment, it may orderthat individual to comply with a plan of treatment approved by the court orcondition legal custody or physical placement of the juvenile with the parent,guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, oradult relative entrusted with the juvenile's care upon that individual'scompliance with the plan of treatment. The court may order the parent,guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, oradult relative entrusted with the juvenile's care to pay the cost of treatmentordered pursuant to this subsection. In cases in which the court hasconditioned legal custody or physical placement of the juvenile with theparent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile'shousehold, or adult relative entrusted with the juvenile's care upon compliancewith a plan of treatment, the court may charge the cost of the treatment to thecounty of the juvenile's residence if the court finds the parent, guardian,custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adultrelative entrusted with the juvenile's care is unable to pay the cost of thetreatment. In all other cases, if the court finds the parent, guardian,custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adultrelative entrusted with the juvenile's care is unable to pay the cost of thetreatment ordered pursuant to this subsection, the court may order thatindividual to receive treatment currently available from the area mental healthprogram that serves the parent's catchment area.

(d)        At thedispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing, when legal custody of a juvenileis vested in someone other than the juvenile's parent, if the court finds thatthe parent is able to do so, the court may order that the parent pay areasonable sum that will cover, in whole or in part, the support of thejuvenile after the order is entered. If the court requires the payment of childsupport, the amount of the payments shall be determined as provided in G.S. 50‑13.4(c).If the court places a juvenile in the custody of a county department of socialservices and if the court finds that the parent is unable to pay the cost ofthe support required by the juvenile, the cost shall be paid by the countydepartment of social services in whose custody the juvenile is placed, providedthe juvenile is not receiving care in an institution owned or operated by theState or federal government or any subdivision thereof.

(d1)      At the dispositionalhearing or a subsequent hearing, the court may order the parent, guardian,custodian, or caretaker served with a copy of the summons pursuant to G.S. 7B‑407to do any of the following:

(1)        Attend andparticipate in parental responsibility classes if those classes are availablein the judicial district in which the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretakerresides.

(2)        Provide, to theextent that person is able to do so, transportation for the juvenile to keepappointments for medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatmentordered by the court if the juvenile remains in or is returned to the home.

(3)        Take appropriatesteps to remedy conditions in the home that led to or contributed to thejuvenile's adjudication or to the court's decision to remove custody of thejuvenile from the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker.

(e)        Upon motion of aparty or upon the court's own motion, the court may issue an order directingthe parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker served with a copy of the summonspursuant to G.S. 7B‑407 to appear and show cause why the parent,guardian, custodian, or caretaker should not be found or held in civil orcriminal contempt for willfully failing to comply with an order of the court.Chapter 5A of the General Statutes shall govern contempt proceedings initiatedpursuant to this section. (1979, c. 815, s. 1; 1983, c. 837, ss. 2, 3; 1987, c.598, s. 2; 1989, c. 218; c. 529, s. 7; 1995, c. 328, s. 2; 1995 (Reg. Sess.,1996), c. 609, s. 4; 1997‑456, s. 1; 1998‑202, s. 6; 1999‑318,s. 7; 1999‑456, s. 60; 2001‑208, s. 3; 2001‑487, s. 101.)