Which of the following is NOT a goal of the disposition hearing?

The disposition hearing in child welfare cases serves several important functions aimed at ensuring the best interests of the child. Among these, deciding on appropriate services for the child, reviewing the case plan for its suitability, and maintaining the child in extended family care are all fundamental goals.

The purpose of these hearings is to assess the needs of the child and the family and to determine the most effective interventions that will support the child's welfare while aiming to rehabilitate and reunite families when possible. For this reason, options related to providing services, evaluating plans, and considering family connections align closely with the objectives of the disposition hearing.

Ending parental rights, however, is typically not a primary goal during the disposition hearing itself. Termination of parental rights is a serious action that generally occurs later in the legal process, often following comprehensive evidence and recommendations from professionals involved in the case. Instead of being an immediate goal, it is seen as a last resort when reunification is deemed unachievable and the child's needs cannot be met within the family context. Therefore, this option is inconsistent with the main objectives of the disposition hearing.