8-826

8-826. Further hearings and proceedings

If a parent or guardian denies the allegations at the preliminary protective hearing the court may set the date for the dependency adjudication hearing as to that parent or guardian. An initial dependency hearing shall not be held as to that parent or guardian. The court shall also schedule the settlement conference, pretrial conference or mediation that is prescribed in section 8-844. The court shall also instruct the parent or guardian that the failure to appear at the pretrial conference, settlement conference or dependency adjudication hearing may result in an adjudication of dependency and disposition as to the parent or guardian who does not appear.