This section provides resources and information, including State and local examples, about attorneys' roles in representing parents in child abuse and neglect cases.
Attributes of High-Quality Legal Representation for Children and Parents in Child Welfare Proceedings
Family Justice Initiative (2019)
Details attorney- and system-level qualities that improve the efficacy of parent representation. Attorney-level qualities include practicing cultural humility and engaging in legal advocacy, and system-level qualities include manageable caseloads and interdisciplinary practice.
How Does High-Quality Legal Representation for Parents Support Better Outcomes?
Casey Family Programs (2019)
Reviews research detailing the unique contribution of high-quality legal representation for parents to positive child welfare outcomes. This article also discusses key tenets of quality legal representation and jurisdictional example.
Resources: Parent Representation
American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law
Provides resources, including State examples, books, videos, and parent guides, to support attorneys representing parents in child abuse and neglect cases.
The Role of Counsel in Representing Parents
Guggenheim (2016)
Child Law Practice Today, 35(2)
Explains key issues attorneys should consider when representing parents accused of child abuse and neglect.
Strange Bedfellows: How Child Welfare Agencies Can Benefit From Investing in Multidisciplinary Parent Representation (PDF - 946 KB)
Sankaran, Rideout, & Raimon (2015)
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Highlights emerging parent representation models that expedite the safe reunification of children in foster care. The article explores the challenges facing child welfare agencies in engaging parents, suggests how multidisciplinary parent representation can assist them in reaching their goals, and encourages child welfare agencies to prioritize strengthening parent representation in their jurisdictions.
State and local examples
Representing Parents in Abuse and Neglect Cases: The Basics of Evidence [Video]
Illinois Legal Aid Online (2020)
Provides detailed guidance for lawyers about how to work with parents accused of child abuse and neglect, including their rights, case timeframes, and the adjudication process.
Representing Parents in Abuse and Neglect Proceedings: An Advocacy and Training Guide for Wyoming Practitioners (PDF - 1,037 KB)
Wyoming Supreme Court, Children’s Justice Project (2016)
Provides guidance to attorneys representing parents in abuse and neglect proceedings on improving outcomes for parents and their children by ensuring timely hearings, increasing reunifications, and decreasing the number of parental rights termination findings.