Fla. Stat. § 984.22 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 984 / Section 984.22
984.22 Powers of disposition.
Status: in_force

(1) If the court finds that services and treatment have not been provided or used by a child or family, the court having jurisdiction of the child in need of services shall have the power to direct the least intrusive and least restrictive disposition, as follows: (a) Order the parent, legal guardian, or custodian and the child to participate in treatment, services, and any other alternative identified as necessary. (b) Order the parent, legal guardian, or custodian to pay a fine or fee based on the recommendations of the department.

(2) When any child is adjudicated by the court to be a child in need of services, the court having jurisdiction of the child and parent, legal guardian, or custodian shall have the power, by order, to: (a) Place the child under the supervision of the department’s authorized agent provider of programs and services for children in need of services and families in need of services. The term supervision, for the purposes of this section, means services as defined by the contract between the department and the provider. (b) Place the child in the temporary legal custody of an adult willing to care for the child. (c) Commit the child to a licensed child-caring agency willing to receive the child and to provide services without compensation from the department. (d) Order the child, and, if the court finds it appropriate, the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child, to render community service in a public service program. (e) Order the child placed in shelter pursuant to s. 984.225 or s. 984.226.

(3) When any child is adjudicated by the court to be a child in need of services and temporary legal custody of the child has been placed with an adult willing to care for the child, or a licensed child-caring agency, the court shall order the natural or adoptive parents of such child, including the natural father of such child born out of wedlock who has acknowledged his paternity in writing before the court, or the guardian of such child’s estate if possessed of assets which under law may be disbursed for the care, support, and maintenance of such child, to pay child support to the adult relative caring for the child, the licensed child-caring agency, the department, or the Department of Children and Families. When such order affects the guardianship estate, a certified copy of such order shall be delivered to the judge having jurisdiction of such guardianship estate. If the court determines that the parent is unable to pay support, placement of the child shall not be contingent upon issuance of a support order. The department may employ a collection agency to receive, collect, and manage the payment of unpaid and delinquent fees. The collection agency must be registered and in good standing under chapter 559. The department may pay to the collection agency a fee from the amount collected under the claim or may authorize the agency to deduct the fee from the amount collected.

(4) In carrying out the provisions of this chapter, the court shall order the child, family, parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child who is found to be a child in need of services to participate in family counseling and other professional counseling activities or other alternatives deemed necessary to address the needs of the child and family.

(5) The participation and cooperation of the family, parent, legal guardian, or custodian, and the child with court-ordered services, treatment, or community service are mandatory, not merely voluntary. The court may use its contempt powers to enforce its orders.

History: ss. 8, 12, ch. 87-133; s. 31, ch. 88-337; s. 18, ch. 93-120; s. 240, ch. 95-147; s. 32, ch. 96-398; s. 169, ch. 97-101; s. 108, ch. 97-238; s. 11, ch. 97-281; s. 73, ch. 98-280; s. 72, ch. 2006-227; s. 340, ch. 2014-19; s. 25, ch. 2025-153.