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Representing Children
Resources and information about attorneys' roles in representing children in child abuse and neglect cases, including State and local examples.
National Quality Improvement Center on Child Representation in the Child Welfare System
Strives to gather, develop, and communicate knowledge on best practices for child representation in civil child protection proceedings and promote consensus on the role of the child's legal representative.
Advocating for Very Young Children in Dependency Proceedings: The Hallmarks of Effective, Ethical Representation (PDF - 2130 KB)
ABA Center on Children and the Law (2010)
Explains how attorneys representing very young children can influence the health, development, and well-being of their clients while providing effective representation when handling ethical dilemmas.
Child Safety: A Guide for Judges and Attorneys
Lund & Renne (2009)
Provides information about child safety decision-making, including safety assessments and safety planning. This guide is targeted to the legal community and contains appendices with expanded definitions and examples of key concepts. (PDF - 871 KB)
A Comparison of Types of Attorney Representation for Children in California Juvenile Court Dependency Cases
Goodman, Edelstein, Mitchell, & Myers
Child Abuse and Neglect, 32(4), 2008
View Abstract
Documents the different types of attorney representation used in dependency cases in 2000 and evaluates these types of representation with respect to children's experiences in foster care.
Opening Statements and Closing Arguments in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Brickman (2007)
Offers online training to help lawyers deliver effective and convincing opening statements as well as compelling and passionate closing arguments during a child sexual abuse case.
Reducing Trauma for Children Involved in Dependency and Criminal Court (PDF - 359 KB)
Jenkins
ABA Child Law Practice, 27(1), 2008
Explores individual and collaborative efforts to reduce trauma, including ways to streamline interviews, prioritize cases involving child witnesses, and avoid continuances. The issue also highlights model programs.
| Representation of Children in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings | |
| Series Title: | State Statutes |
| Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 561KB) |
| Year Published: | 2011 - 88 pages |
| Examines State laws that specify when a State court must provide legal representation for a child involved in child abuse and neglect proceedings and whether that representative must be an attorney, guardian ad litem, or a court-appointed special advocate. The qualifications, training, specific duties, and compensation of the representative also are addressed. Summaries of relevant laws for all States and U.S. territories are included. | |
| Working with the Courts in Child Protection | |
| Author(s): | Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Jones |
| Availability: | View Download (PDF - 10,480KB) |
| Year Published: | 2006 - 130 pages |
| Part of a series of manuals designed to provide guidance on child protection practices, this manual explains court processes most relevant to child abuse and neglect cases. It introduces concepts and terminology associated with the courts, describes the key court processes, and presents practical information to help child protective services caseworkers prepare for court litigation. Specific chapters address: the general or common court system; the powers of the court and the rights of parents and children in child maltreatment cases; the interplay between child maltreatment legislation and caseworker practice; the juvenile court process; the criminal court process; domestic relations and ... | |
State and local examples
Assessing the Quality of Child Advocacy in Dependency Proceedings in Pennsylvania (PDF - 259 KB)
Johnston-Walsh, Kinnevy, Lerner, & Pokempner (2010)
Explores the right to counsel under the Juvenile Act, the role of the guardian ad litem, the role of youth in court proceedings, and the quality of child representation in Pennsylvania.
The Impact of Traumatic Stress and Alcohol Exposure on Youth: Implications for Lawyers, Judges, and Courts (PDF - 908 KB)
Vandervort
Michigan Child Welfare Law Journal, 11(2), 2007
Explores the practical implications for representing clients in child welfare and juvenile justice cases given the impact of childhood trauma and exposure to alcohol abuse on children's functioning. The article includes strategies for communicating with and counseling youth, investigating a child's history of trauma, ensuring appropriate services are provided to the child, and more.