Section 15-11-191. (Effective January 1, 2014) Contents of social study

   Each social study shall include, but not be limited to, a factual discussion of each of the following subjects:

   (1) What plan, if any, for the return of the child adjudicated to be a dependent child to his or her parent and for achieving legal permanency for such child if efforts to reunify fail is recommended to the court;

   (2) Whether the best interests of the child will be served by granting reasonable visitation rights to his or her other relatives in order to maintain and strengthen the child adjudicated to be a dependent child's family relationships;

   (3) Whether the child adjudicated to be a dependent child has siblings under the court's jurisdiction, and, if so:

      (A) The nature of the relationship between such child and his or her siblings;

      (B) Whether the siblings were raised together in the same home and whether the siblings have shared significant common experiences or have existing close and strong bonds;

      (C) Whether the child adjudicated to be a dependent child expresses a desire to visit or live with his or her siblings and whether ongoing contact is in such child's best interests;

      (D) The appropriateness of developing or maintaining sibling relationships;

      (E) If siblings are not placed together in the same home, why the siblings are not placed together and what efforts are being made to place siblings together or why those efforts are not appropriate;

      (F) If siblings are not placed together, the frequency and nature of the visits between siblings; and

      (G) The impact of the sibling relationship on the child adjudicated to be a dependent child's placement and planning for legal permanence;

   (4) The appropriateness of any placement with a relative of the child adjudicated to be a dependent child; and

   (5) Whether a caregiver desires and is willing to provide legal permanency for a child adjudicated to be a dependent child if reunification is unsuccessful.

Code 1981, § 15-11-191, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.