Where a parent or guardian of a child complains to the Board that he is not able to exercise proper care and control over the child and the Board is satisfied on inquiry that proceeding under this Act should be initiated regarding the child, it may send the child to an observation home [or a place of safety] [Inserted by Act 15 of 1978, section 13] and make such further inquiry as it may deem fit and the provisions of section 15 and section 16 shall, as far as may be, apply to such proceedings.
