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Iowa Code § 232.98

Physical assessments and behavioral health evaluations — child in need of assistance

Redline — January 1, 2012 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2026
As of January 1, 2012
1. Except as provided in section 232.78, subsection 5, a physical or mental examination of the child may be ordered only after the filing of a petition pursuant to section 232.87 and after a hearing to determine whether an examination is necessary to determine the child’s physical or mental condition. The court may consider chemical dependency as either a physical or mental condition and may consider a chemical dependency evaluation as either a physical or mental examination.
1. a. Except as provided in section 232.78, subsection 5, a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation of a child may be ordered only after the filing of a petition pursuant to section 232.87, and after a hearing to determine whether a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation is necessary to determine the child’s physical condition or if the child has a behavioral health condition.
b. The court may consider chemical dependency as either a physical or behavioral health condition and may consider a chemical dependency evaluation as either a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation.
a. The hearing required by this section may be held simultaneously with the adjudicatory hearing.
c. The hearing required by this section may be held simultaneously with the adjudicatory hearing.
b. An examination ordered prior to the adjudication shall be conducted on an outpatient basis when possible, but if necessary the court may commit the child to a suitable nonsecure hospital, facility, or institution for the purpose of examination for a period not to exceed fifteen days if all of the following are found to be present:
d. A physical assessment or a behavioral health evaluation ordered prior to the adjudication shall be conducted on an outpatient basis when possible. However, if deemed necessary by the court, the court may order the child to a suitable nonsecure hospital, facility, or institution for the purpose of an inpatient physical assessment or an inpatient behavioral health evaluation for a period not to exceed thirty days if all of the following circumstances exist:
(1) Probable cause exists to believe that the child is a child in need of assistance pursuant to section 232.2, subsection 6, paragraph “e” or “f”.
(1) Probable cause exists to believe that the child is a child in need of assistance pursuant to section 232.96A, subsection 5 or 6.
(2) Commitment is necessary to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the child is a child in need of assistance.
(2) An inpatient physical assessment or inpatient behavioral health evaluation is necessary to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the child is a child in need of assistance.
(3) The child’s attorney agrees to the commitment.
(3) The child’s attorney agrees to an inpatient physical assessment or inpatient behavioral health evaluation.
c. An examination ordered after adjudication shall be conducted on an outpatient basis when possible, but if necessary the court may commit the child to a suitable nonsecure hospital, facility, or institution for the purpose of examination for a period not to exceed thirty days.
e. A physical assessment or a behavioral health evaluation ordered after the adjudication shall be conducted on an outpatient basis when possible. However, if deemed necessary by the court, the court may order the child to a suitable nonsecure hospital, facility, or institution for the purpose of an inpatient physical assessment or an inpatient behavioral health evaluation for a period not to exceed thirty days.
d. The child’s parent, guardian, or custodian shall be included in counseling sessions offered during the child’s stay in a hospital, facility, or institution when feasible, and when in the best interests of the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian. If separate counseling sessions are conducted for the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, a joint counseling session shall be offered prior to the release of the child from the hospital, facility, or institution. The court shall require that notice be provided to the child’s guardian ad litem of the counseling sessions and of the participants and results of the sessions.
f. The child’s parent, guardian, or custodian shall be included in counseling sessions offered during the child’s stay in a hospital, facility, or institution when feasible, and when in the best interests of the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian. If separate counseling sessions are conducted for the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, a joint counseling session shall be offered prior to the release of the child from the hospital, facility, or institution. The court shall require that notice be provided to the child’s guardian ad litem of the counseling sessions, the counseling session participants, and the outcomes of the counseling sessions.
2. Following an adjudication that a child is a child in need of assistance, the court may after a hearing order the physical or mental examination of the parent, guardian or custodian if that person’s ability to care for the child is at issue.
2. Following an adjudication that a child is a child in need of assistance, the court may, after a hearing, order a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian if that person’s ability to care for the child is at issue.
84 Acts, ch 1279, §15; 85 Acts, ch 173, §12; 86 Acts, ch 1186, §10; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263
84 Acts, ch 1279, §15; 85 Acts, ch 173, §12; 86 Acts, ch 1186, §10; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2022 Acts, ch 1098, §79; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §619; 2025 Acts, ch 86, §29
Referred to in
Section amended

Official source: Iowa Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Iowa statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.