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LIST OF CHAPTERS
I. THE CONTEXT OF CHILD WELFARE LAW
Chapter 1 THE CONTEXT OF CHILD WELFARE LAW ........................... 1 Clark Peters
Chapter 2 PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND EMOTIONAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................................... 15 Ann M. Haralambie Antonia E. Chiesa
Chapter 3 MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS IN CHILD WELFARE SETTINGS .................................................................. 45 Joshua Kay
Chapter 4 CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPACT OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................................... 69 Gene Griffin
Chapter 5 INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING OF THE CHILD ............. 87 Thomas D. Lyon
Chapter 6 INTERVIEWING AND COUNSELING LEGAL CLIENTS WHO ARE CHILDREN ............................................ 115 Ann M. Haralambie Lauren Adams
Chapter 7 FAMILY DYNAMICS AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................... 131 Donald C. Bross Michelle Marlowe
Chapter 8 CONSIDERING CULTURE IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PRACTICE: TIPS FOR ATTORNEYS ........ 151 Lisa Aronson Fontes
Chapter 9 SECONDARY TRAUMA AND SELF-CARE ........................... 175 Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk Edited by Vivek Sankaran
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II. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Chapter 10 THE HISTORY OF CHILD WELFARE LAW ........................ 189 Marvin Ventrell
Chapter 11 FEDERAL LEGISLATION PROTECTING CHILDREN AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR WELL-BEING .............................................................................. 231 Frank E. Vandervort
Chapter 12 U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES REGARDING CHILD WELFARE ...................................................................... 275 Ann M. Haralambie
Chapter 13 THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT .................................... 311 Matthew L.M. Fletcher Kathryn E. Fort
III. THE CHILD WELFARE LEGAL PROCESS
Chapter 14 CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES MALTREATMENT INVESTIGATION/ASSESSMENT: AN OVERVIEW FOR ATTORNEYS ...................................................................... 337 Alberta J. Ellett
Chapter 15 CHILD SAFETY: WHAT JUDGES AND LAWYERS NEED TO KNOW ......................................................................... 353 Therese Roe Lund Jennifer Renne
Chapter 16 DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND CHILD PROTECTION ........ 387 Josh Gupta-Kagan
Chapter 17 A CHILD’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM ................................................................... 419 Ann M. Haralambie Donald N. Duquette
Chapter 18 CASE ASSESSMENT AND THEORY ....................................... 449 Ann M. Haralambie
List of Chapters
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Chapter 19 INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES .................... 469 Ann M. Haralambie
Chapter 20 CONFIDENTIALITY ................................................................... 493 Ann M. Haralambie
Chapter 21 COLLATERAL PROCEEDINGS ............................................... 521 Ann M. Haralambie Erin Han Sharlyn Grace Steven Pick Richard Cozzola
Chapter 22 IMMIGRATION ISSUES — REPRESENTING CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT UNITED STATES CITIZENS ...................................................................................... 557 David B. Thronson Veronica T. Thronson
Chapter 23 ADVOCACY FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENT PROCEEDINGS .......................... 575 Bernard P. Perlmutter
Chapter 24 ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ....................................... 607 Kristin Kelly Kathleen McNaught Janet Stotland
Chapter 25 FOSTER YOUTH: TRANSITIONING FROM FOSTER CARE INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTHOOD ............................................................................... 641 Melanie Delgado Robert C. Fellmeth
Chapter 26 FAMILY-CENTERED DECISION-MAKING AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION .............................. 675 Kelly Browe Olson
Chapter 27 ESTABLISHING LEGAL PERMANENCE FOR THE CHILD .................................................................................. 701 LaShanda Taylor Adams
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Chapter 28 CHILD WELFARE APPELLATE ADVOCACY ..................... 731 Vivek S. Sankaran
IV. THE ROLE AND DUTIES OF LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapter 29 AGENCY REPRESENTATION IN CHILD WELFARE PROCEEDINGS ........................................................................... 751 Brooke N. Silverthorn
Chapter 30 REPRESENTING PARENTS IN CHILD WELFARE CASES ............................................................................................ 767 Vivek S. Sankaran
Chapter 31 REPRESENTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH ......................... 817 Donald N. Duquette Ann Haralambie
V. COURTROOM ADVOCACY
Chapter 32 CHILDREN IN COURT .............................................................. 857 John E. B. Myers
Chapter 33 SPECIAL EVIDENTIARY ISSUES ........................................... 895 John E. B. Myers
Chapter 34 TRIAL ADVOCACY .................................................................... 913 Steven Lubet John E.B. Myers
Chapter 35 SYSTEM AND POLICY ADVOCACY ...................................... 951 Casey Trupin
Appendix A ABA MODEL ACT GOVERNING THE REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN IN ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS ............... 965
Appendix B QIC BEST PRACTICE MODEL OF CHILD REPRESENTATION ................................................................... 981
Appendix C ABA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT CHILDREN IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ........................................................................ 993
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Appendix D ABA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING PARENTS IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ...................................................................... 1019
Appendix E ABA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR LAWYERS REPRESENTING CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES .............. 1065
SUBJECT INDEX ............................................................................................... 1095
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About the Editors ....................................................................................................... iii
Contributing Authors .................................................................................................. v
Foreword ................................................................................................................... liii
Introduction ................................................................................................................ lv
I. THE CONTEXT OF CHILD WELFARE LAW
Chapter 1 THE CONTEXT OF CHILD WELFARE LAW ........................... 1 Clark Peters
§ 1.1 POVERTY ........................................................................... 2
§ 1.2 THE INTERSECTIONS OF DISADVANTAGE .............................................................. 5
§ 1.2.1—Race ....................................................................... 6
§ 1.3 CHILD MALTREATMENT ............................................. 7
§ 1.3.1—Advances in Brain Science .................................... 8 § 1.3.2—Corporate Parenthood ............................................ 8 § 1.3.3—Extended Obligation for Youth Aging
Out of Care ............................................................ 9
§ 1.4 THE URGENCY OF CONTEMPORARY CHILD WELFARE ADVOCACY .................................. 11
§ 1.4.1—Good Advocacy of Children and Parents............. 11 § 1.4.2—Achieving Well-Being Alongside Safety
and Permanency .................................................. 11
Chapter 2 PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND EMOTIONAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................................... 15
Ann M. Haralambie Antonia E. Chiesa
§ 2.1 PHYSICAL ABUSE ......................................................... 16
§ 2.1.1—Fractures .............................................................. 19
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§ 2.1.2—Bruises .................................................................. 21 § 2.1.3—Lacerations ........................................................... 23 § 2.1.4—Burns .................................................................... 23 § 2.1.5—Internal (Abdominal and Thoracic)
Injuries ................................................................. 25 § 2.1.6—Abusive Head Trauma.......................................... 26 § 2.1.7—Medical Child Abuse ........................................... 28 § 2.1.8—Medical Ramifications ......................................... 29
§ 2.2 SEXUAL ABUSE .............................................................. 30
§ 2.2.1—Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse ......................... 31 § 2.2.2—Pedophilia............................................................. 31 § 2.2.3—Assessing Sexual Abuse ....................................... 32
§ 2.3 EMOTIONAL ABUSE ..................................................... 36
§ 2.4 NEGLECT ......................................................................... 37
§ 2.4.1—Emotional Neglect ................................................ 37 § 2.4.2—Physical Neglect ................................................... 38 § 2.4.3—Medical Neglect ................................................... 39 § 2.4.4—Failure to Thrive ................................................... 41 § 2.4.5—Educational Neglect ............................................. 42
§ 2.5 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PARENTING .................... 42
§ 2.5.1—Prenatal Exposure to Drugs and Alcohol ............. 43
Chapter 3 MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS IN CHILD WELFARE SETTINGS ................................................................... 45
Joshua Kay
§ 3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 46
§ 3.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS OF PARENTING CAPACITY: OVERVIEW ...................... 47
§ 3.2.1—What A Parenting Capacity Evaluation Can Do ................................................................. 48
§ 3.2.2—What A Parenting Capacity Evaluation Cannot Do ............................................................ 49
§ 3.3 ELEMENTS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL
EVALUATION OF PARENTING CAPACITY ............ 53
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§ 3.4 MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION REPORTS ......................................................................... 55
§ 3.5 THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS IN MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS .......................... 57
§ 3.6 APPLICABLE STANDARDS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS IN CHILD PROTECTION MATTERS ............................... 60
§ 3.7 EXPERT TESTIMONY BY MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATORS .............................................. 62
§ 3.8 COMMON PROBLEMS WITH MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS IN CHILD PROTECTION MATTERS ............................................. 64
§ 3.9 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCACY .......................... 65
§ 3.10 CONCLUSION ................................................................. 68
Chapter 4 CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPACT OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................................... 69
Gene Griffin
§ 4.1 CHILD DEVELOPMENT ............................................... 70
§ 4.2 HEALTHY DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES ....... 71
§ 4.2.1—Physical Growth Charts from Birth to 20 Years Old ............................................................. 71
§ 4.2.2—Development of Motor Skills .............................. 74 § 4.2.3—Development of Social/Emotional Skills ............. 75 § 4.2.4—Development of
Cognitive/Communication Skills ........................ 75 § 4.2.5—Indicators of Developmental Issues ..................... 76
§ 4.3 DISRUPTION OF HEALTHY
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES — THE IMPACT OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ......................... 77
§ 4.3.1—Genetic Issues ...................................................... 77 § 4.3.2—Pre-Natal Issues ................................................... 78 § 4.3.3—Child Abuse and Neglect ..................................... 79
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§ 4.4 CURRENT RESEARCH REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT OF CHILD ABUSE ............................................................................... 79
§ 4.4.1—Brain Development .............................................. 79 § 4.4.2—Adverse Childhood Experiences .......................... 81 § 4.4.3—Child Trauma ....................................................... 82
§ 4.5 A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO
DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IN ABUSED CHILDREN ....................................................................... 84
§ 4.6 SUMMARY ....................................................................... 86
Chapter 5 INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING OF THE CHILD ............. 87 Thomas D. Lyon
§ 5.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 88
§ 5.2 ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS ................................. 89
§ 5.2.1—Question Types: Closed-Ended Versus Open-Ended ......................................................... 89
§ 5.2.2—Why Minimize Closed-Ended Questions ............. 90
§ 5.3 BEGIN THE INTERVIEW WITH INTERVIEW INSTRUCTIONS...................................... 97
§ 5.3.1—Give the “I Don’t Know” Instruction ................... 98 § 5.3.2—Give the “I Don’t Understand”
Instruction ............................................................ 99 § 5.3.3—Give the “You’re Wrong” Instruction .................. 99 § 5.3.4—Give the Ignorant Interviewer Instruction .......... 100 § 5.3.5—Elicit A Promise to Tell the Truth ...................... 100 § 5.3.6—Limitations of Instructions ................................. 100
§ 5.4 USE OPEN-ENDED RAPPORT BUILDING,
INCLUDING NARRATIVE PRACTICE, BEFORE MOVING TO THE INTERVIEW TOPIC .............................................................................. 101
§ 5.5 INTRODUCE THE INTERVIEW TOPIC WITH OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS ............................ 102
§ 5.6 USE OPTIMAL INTERVIEWING STRATEGIES IN COURT ............................................ 104
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§ 5.7 CASE STUDIES ............................................................. 106
§ 5.7.1—Narrative Practice and Young Children’s Responses to Open-Ended Questions: The Case of Four-Year-Old J. ........................... 106
§ 5.7.2—Older Children’s Narratives: The Case of Eleven-Year-Old A. ........................................... 111
Chapter 6 INTERVIEWING AND COUNSELING LEGAL CLIENTS WHO ARE CHILDREN ............................................ 115
Ann M. Haralambie Lauren Adams
§ 6.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 116
§ 6.2 BUILDING TRUST AND ESTABLISHING RAPPORT ....................................................................... 116
§ 6.2.1—Explaining the Role of the Attorney .................. 117 § 6.2.2—Planning for the Initial Client Contact ............... 118
§ 6.3 MEETING WITH A CHILD CLIENT ........................ 119
§ 6.3.1—Choosing a Location .......................................... 119 § 6.3.2—Helping the Child Feel Comfortable .................. 120 § 6.3.3—Keeping Promises .............................................. 121 § 6.3.4—Informing the Client About the Case ................. 122
§ 6.4 CHILD-CENTERED INTERVIEWING ..................... 122
§ 6.4.1—Communicating at the Child’s Level ................. 123 § 6.4.2—Strengthening Rapport ....................................... 124 § 6.4.3—Being Aware of Your Own Responses .............. 125 § 6.4.4—Active Listening................................................. 125 § 6.4.5—Using the Funnel Technique .............................. 127
§ 6.5 COUNSELING THE CHILD CLIENT ........................ 129
Chapter 7 FAMILY DYNAMICS AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................... 131
Donald C. Bross Michelle Marlowe
§ 7.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 132
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§ 7.2 CIRCUMSTANCES DURING WHICH CHILD MALTREATMENT OCCURS ........................ 132
§ 7.3 PERSPECTIVES FOR UNDERSTANDING ABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL PARENTING............. 134
§ 7.4 CONSEQUENCES OF MALTREATMENT ............... 137
§ 7.5 TREATMENT ................................................................. 140
§ 7.5.1—Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children ............................................................. 141
§ 7.5.2—Treatment for Parents ......................................... 143 § 7.5.3—Parents Who Are the Most Difficult to
Treat ................................................................... 145
§ 7.6 MEASURING CHANGE IN PARENTING COMPETENCY AND MOTIVATION ........................ 147
§ 7.7 DECISIONS REGARDING PLACEMENT, REUNIFICATION, AND TERMINATION ................. 149
§ 7.8 SUMMARY ..................................................................... 150
Chapter 8 CONSIDERING CULTURE IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PRACTICE: TIPS FOR ATTORNEYS ................. 151
Lisa Aronson Fontes
§ 8.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 152
§ 8.1.1—Ecosystemic Framework .................................... 152
§ 8.2 CULTURES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ..................... 154
§ 8.3 SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ................................................................... 155
§ 8.4 CULTURAL COMPETENCE ....................................... 156
§ 8.5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE: GENERAL ....................................................................... 157
§ 8.5.1—Prepare for Your Conversation .......................... 157 § 8.5.2—Build Rapport and Convey Empathy ................. 159 § 8.5.3—Give Full Attention and Convey Respect ........... 161 § 8.5.4—Posing Questions ................................................ 163
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§ 8.5.5—Handle Language Needs Appropriately ............. 164
§ 8.6 CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND CULTURE ................ 165
§ 8.6.1—Child Sexual Abuse and Historical Trauma .............................................................. 166
§ 8.6.2—Child Sexual Abuse and Religion ...................... 167 § 8.6.3—Culture as an “Explanation” for Child
Sexual Abuse ..................................................... 167 § 8.6.4—Disclosures of Child Sexual Abuse and
Culture ............................................................... 168
§ 8.7 PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE AND CULTURE ........... 169
§ 8.7.1—Methods of Physical Discipline and Abuse ................................................................. 171
§ 8.7.2—Child Physical Abuse and Religion ................... 171
§ 8.8 CHILD NEGLECT AND CULTURE........................... 172
§ 8.9 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 173
Chapter 9 SECONDARY TRAUMA AND SELF-CARE ........................... 175 Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk Edited by Vivek Sankaran
§ 9.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................... 175
§ 9.2 A NEW VISION FOR OUR COLLECTIVE WORK ............................................................................ 176
§ 9.3 NEW WAYS TO NAVIGATE ..................................... 182
II. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Chapter 10 THE HISTORY OF CHILD WELFARE LAW ........................ 189 Marvin Ventrell
§ 10.1 WHY HISTORY? AUTHORS NOTE .......................... 190
§ 10.2 THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF CHILD WELFARE LAW: FROM CHILD SAVING
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TO EMPOWERMENT, FROM CAUSE TO PROFESSION ................................................................. 191
§ 10.3 JUVENILE LAW ............................................................ 195
§ 10.4 DEPENDENCY COURT JURISDICTION.................. 196
§ 10.5 ORIGINS OF CHILD MALTREATMENT AND PROTECTION ...................................................... 197
§ 10.5.1—Maltreatment .................................................... 197 § 10.5.2—Child Protection ............................................... 199 § 10.5.3—Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century
England: Creation of a System of Family Law ...................................................... 200
§ 10.5.4—Colonial America: Transplanting and Developing the English System ....................... 204
§ 10.5.5—Nineteenth-Century America: The Rise of the Parens Patriae System .......................... 207
§ 10.5.6—The Juvenile Court: Institutionalizing and Developing the Parens Patriae System .............................................................. 218
§ 10.6 EVOLVING DEPENDENCY PHILOSOPHY
AND OPERATION ......................................................... 228
§ 10.6.1—Parental Rights ................................................. 228 § 10.6.2—Cultural Context ............................................... 229 § 10.6.3—System Operation ............................................. 229
§ 10.7 THE CHILD WELFARE LAW ATTORNEY ............. 230
Chapter 11 FEDERAL LEGISLATION PROTECTING CHILDREN AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR WELL-BEING ............................................................................... 231
Frank E. Vandervort
§ 11.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 232
§ 11.2 CURRENT FEDERAL LAW ........................................ 234
§ 11.2.1—Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act .................................................................... 234
§ 11.2.2—Titles IV-B and IV-E ........................................ 237
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§ 11.3 MULTIETHNIC PLACEMENT ACT AND THE INTERETHNIC PLACEMENT PROVISIONS ................................................................. 247
§ 11.3.1—History ............................................................. 247 § 11.3.2—Delay ................................................................ 250 § 11.3.3—Denial ............................................................... 251 § 11.3.4—MEPA-IEP and the Indian Child
Welfare Act ...................................................... 252 § 11.3.5—Enforcement ..................................................... 252
§ 11.4 OLDER YOUTH — THE FOSTER CARE
INDEPENDENCE ACT (CHAFFEE ACT) AND OTHER LEGISLATION ..................................... 253
§ 11.5 FOSTERING CONNECTIONS TO SUCCESS AND INCREASING ADOPTIONS ACT ..................... 254
§ 11.5.1—Expanded Permanency Options ....................... 255 § 11.5.2—Locating Adult Relatives ................................. 255 § 11.5.3—Providing Notice to Relatives .......................... 256 § 11.5.4—Waiving Licensing Rules ................................. 256 § 11.5.5—Extending Age of Foster Care
Placement ......................................................... 256 § 11.5.6—Transition Plan ................................................. 257 § 11.5.7—Educational Stability ........................................ 257 § 11.5.8—Health Care ...................................................... 258 § 11.5.9—Keeping Siblings Together .............................. 258 § 11.5.10—Tribal Access to Title IV-E Funds ................. 259 § 11.5.11—Adoption and Guardianship Incentives .......... 259
§ 11.6 VICTIMS OF SEX TRAFFICKING ............................ 260
§ 11.6.1—Adoption and Guardianship Incentives and Assistance ................................................. 262
§ 11.7 CHILD WELL-BEING STATUTES ............................ 263
§ 11.7.1—Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ........................................................... 263
§ 11.7.2—Medicaid .......................................................... 264 § 11.7.3—State Children’s Health Insurance
Program ........................................................... 265 § 11.7.4—Supplemental Security Income ........................ 266
§ 11.8 OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS ............................... 266
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§ 11.9 A CASE EXAMPLE: APPLYING SELECTED FEDERAL FUNDING STREAMS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS ................................ 267
§ 11.10 MISCELLANEOUS FEDERAL STATUTES .............. 271
§ 11.10.1—Americans with Disabilities Act .................... 272 § 11.10.2—Children’s Health Act of 2000 ....................... 273
§ 11.11 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 274
Chapter 12 U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES REGARDING CHILD WELFARE ....................................................................... 275
Ann M. Haralambie
§ 12.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 277
§ 12.2 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PARENTS ........... 277
§ 12.2.1—Meyer v. Nebraska ........................................... 277 § 12.2.2—Pierce v. Society of Sisters ............................... 278 § 12.2.3—Prince v. Massachusetts ................................... 279 § 12.2.4—Wisconsin v. Yoder ........................................... 281 § 12.2.5—Troxel v. Granville ........................................... 282
§ 12.3 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF
CHILDREN AND YOUTH ............................................ 283
§ 12.3.1—In re Gault ........................................................ 283 § 12.3.2—Tinker v. Des Moines Independent
Community School District .............................. 285 § 12.3.3—Bellotti v. Baird ................................................ 285 § 12.3.4—Parham v. J.R. .................................................. 288
§ 12.4 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PUTATIVE
FATHERS OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK ..................................................................... 289
§ 12.4.1—Stanley v. Illinois .............................................. 289 § 12.4.2—Quilloin v. Walcott ........................................... 290 § 12.4.3—Caban v. Mohammed ....................................... 291 § 12.4.4—Lehr v. Robertson ............................................. 292 § 12.4.5—Michael H. v. Gerald D. ................................... 293
§ 12.5 TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ............... 294
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§ 12.5.1—Lassiter v. Department of Social Services ............................................................ 294
§ 12.5.2—Lehman v. Lycoming County Children’s Services Agency ............................................... 295
§ 12.5.3—Santosky v. Kramer .......................................... 296 § 12.5.4—M.L.B. v. S.L.J.................................................. 296
§ 12.6 FOSTER PARENT RELATIONSHIPS ....................... 297
§ 12.6.1—Smith v. Organization of Foster Families for Equality & Reform ...................... 297
§ 12.7 STATE AGENCY DUTIES ........................................... 299
§ 12.7.1—DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services ......................... 299
§ 12.7.2—Youngberg v. Romeo ........................................ 301 § 12.7.3—Suter v. Artist M. .............................................. 302
§ 12.8 ACCESS TO CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICE RECORDS .................................................... 303
§ 12.8.1—Pennsylvania v. Ritchie .................................... 303
§ 12.9 SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE .................................. 303
§ 12.9.1—Washington State Department of Social and Health Services v. Guardianship Estate of Keffeler ............................................. 303
§ 12.10 PARENT’S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-
INCRIMINATION IN CHILD PROTECTION CASES ............................................................................. 304
§ 12.10.1—Baltimore City Department of Social Services v. Bouknight ..................................... 304
§ 12.11 PRENATAL DRUG TESTING; CRIMINAL
VERSUS CIVIL CHILD PROTECTION INVESTIGATIONS ....................................................... 305
§ 12.11.1—Ferguson v. City of Charleston ...................... 305
§ 12.12 INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTION .......................... 306
§ 12.12.1—Abbott v. Abbott ............................................. 306
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§ 12.12.2—Chafin v. Chafin ............................................. 306 § 12.12.3—Lozano v. Montoya Alvarez ............................ 307
§ 12.13 INDIAN CHILDREN ..................................................... 307
§ 12.13.1—Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v. Holyfield ..................................................... 307
§ 12.13.2—Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl ........................ 308
§ 12.14 CHILDREN’S OUT-OF-COURT STATEMENTS ............................................................... 308
§ 12.14.1—Ohio v. Clark .................................................. 308
Chapter 13 THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT .................................... 311 Matthew L.M. Fletcher Kathryn E. Fort
§ 13.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 312
§ 13.2 HISTORY ........................................................................ 314
§ 13.3 THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT ...................... 317
§ 13.3.1—Definitions; Application ................................... 317 § 13.3.2—Exclusive Tribal Jurisdiction ............................ 319 § 13.3.3—Concurrent Jurisdiction .................................... 321 § 13.3.4—Notice ............................................................... 322 § 13.3.5—Appointment of Counsel .................................. 324 § 13.3.6—Removal ........................................................... 325 § 13.3.7—Qualified Expert Witness ................................. 325 § 13.3.8—Active Efforts ................................................... 326 § 13.3.9—Foster Care Placement Preferences .................. 327 § 13.3.10—Termination of Parental Rights ...................... 329 § 13.3.11—Adoptions; Placement Preferences ................. 329 § 13.3.12—Miscellaneous Provisions ............................... 331
§ 13.4 STATE ICWA LAWS .................................................... 332
§ 13.5 A NOTE ON THE TRUST RESPONSIBILITY AND THE CONSTITUTION ........................................ 333
§ 13.6 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 335
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III. THE CHILD WELFARE LEGAL PROCESS
Chapter 14 CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES MALTREATMENT INVESTIGATION/ ASSESSMENT: AN OVERVIEW FOR ATTORNEYS ........... 337
Alberta J. Ellett
§ 14.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 338
§ 14.2 CONTEXT FOR VARIED CHILD WELFARE PRACTICES ................................................................... 338
§ 14.3 THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKFORCE ............................................................... 340
§ 14.4 EVOLUTION OF CPS PRACTICE ............................. 343
§ 14.5 CPS INVESTIGATION/ASSESSMENT PROCESS ........................................................................ 344
§ 14.5.1—Child Protective Services Intake ...................... 345 § 14.5.2—CPS Initial Maltreatment Assessment ............. 345 § 14.5.3—In-Home/Family Preservation, Support,
and Assessment ................................................ 348 § 14.5.4—Measuring the Case Plan for Change
Progress ........................................................... 350 § 14.5.5—Closing and Terminating Family
Preservation CPS ............................................. 351
Chapter 15 CHILD SAFETY: WHAT JUDGES AND LAWYERS NEED TO KNOW ......................................................................... 353
Therese Roe Lund Jennifer Renne
§ 15.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 355
§ 15.2 UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS .............................. 356
§ 15.3 INFORMATION DRIVES DECISIONS ABOUT SAFETY: SIX CRUCIAL QUESTIONS ................................................................... 357
§ 15.3.1—What Is the Nature and Extent of the Maltreatment? .................................................. 358
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§ 15.3.2—What Circumstances Accompany the Maltreatment? .................................................. 359
§ 15.3.3—How Does the Child Function Day-to-Day? ................................................................. 359
§ 15.3.4—How Does the Parent Discipline the Child? ............................................................... 360
§ 15.3.5—What Are the Overall Parenting Practices? ......................................................... 360
§ 15.3.6—How Does the Parent Manage His or Her Own Life? ................................................. 360
§ 15.4 COLLECTING INFORMATION:
AVAILABILITY DURING THE COURT PROCESS ........................................................................ 361
§ 15.5 KEY ELEMENTS FOR SAFETY DECISION-MAKING: STANDARDIZING CRITERIA FOR THREATS, VULNERABILITY, AND PROTECTIVE CAPACITY .......................................... 363
§ 15.5.1—The First Element: Threats of Danger .............. 363 § 15.5.2—The Second Element: Child
Vulnerability .................................................... 364 § 15.5.3—The Third Element: Protective
Capacities ......................................................... 366
§ 15.6 USING THE INFORMATION TO MAKE A SAFETY DECISION ...................................................... 368
§ 15.7 SAFETY PLANS ............................................................. 370
§ 15.7.1—When a Safety Plan Is Necessary ..................... 370 § 15.7.2—Criteria the Safety Plan Must Meet .................. 370 § 15.7.3—The Range of Safety Plans ............................... 370 § 15.7.4—Safety Plan Actions and Services That
Help Control Threats ........................................ 371 § 15.7.5—When an In-Home Safety Plan Is
Sufficient, Feasible, and Sustainable: Reasonable Efforts to Prevent Placement ......................................................... 373
§ 15.8 THE OUT-OF-HOME SAFETY PLAN ....................... 375
§ 15.8.1—Visitation: Contact Between Children and Family........................................................ 375
§ 15.8.2—Components of Visitation Plans ....................... 375
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§ 15.8.3—Conditions for Return: Establishing Clear Objectives............................................... 376
§ 15.8.4—Using Safety-Related Information and Logical Decision-Making When Establishing Conditions for Return .................. 377
§ 15.9 THE COURT-ORDERED CASE PLAN ...................... 378
§ 15.9.1—Federal Foster Care Requirements ................... 379 § 15.9.2—Increasing the Case Plan’s Likelihood
for Success ....................................................... 379 § 15.9.3—Evaluating Progress Using Safety
Criteria ............................................................. 380
§ 15.10 REUNIFICATION: A SAFETY DECISION ............... 382
§ 15.10.1—Issues Central to the Reunification Decision ......................................................... 383
§ 15.10.2—Determining Whether to Reunify .................. 383 § 15.10.3—Safety Criteria Help Determine When
to Terminate Court Jurisdiction ..................... 385
§ 15.11 SUMMARY ..................................................................... 385
Chapter 16 DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND CHILD PROTECTION ........ 387 Josh Gupta-Kagan
§ 16.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 388
§ 16.2 THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FAMILY INTEGRITY .................................................. 389
§ 16.2.1—The Oldest of the Fundamental Liberty Interests ............................................................ 389
§ 16.2.2—Do All Parents Have These Rights?: Issues Involving Unwed Fathers ...................... 392
§ 16.2.3—Do Caregivers Other Than Parents Have Rights? ............................................................. 394
§ 16.2.4—Do Children Have Constitutional Rights to Live with Their Parents? .............................. 396
§ 16.3 CPS INVESTIGATIONS AND THE
CONSTITUTION ........................................................... 398
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§ 16.3.1—Fourth Amendment Protections Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures Apply ................................................................ 398
§ 16.3.2—The Special Needs Exception and Its Frequent Inapplicability to CPS Investigations ................................................... 400
§ 16.3.3—Exigent Circumstances ..................................... 402 § 16.3.4—Consent ............................................................ 403 § 16.3.5—Understanding the Concept of Qualified
Immunity for CPS Workers ............................. 404 § 16.3.6—Implications for CPS Practice .......................... 406
§ 16.4 DUE PROCESS RIGHTS REGARDING
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CENTRAL REGISTRIES .................................................................. 407
§ 16.5 PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS AND CHILD PROTECTION CASES IN CHILD WELFARE COURT ............................................................................ 410
§ 16.5.1—Due Process Protections Required ................... 410 § 16.5.2—Petition and Notice ........................................... 411 § 16.5.3—Removal Hearings ............................................ 411 § 16.5.4—Trial on the State’s Unfitness
Allegations ....................................................... 411 § 16.5.5—Non-Offending Parents — At
Disposition and Other Procedural Postures ............................................................ 412
§ 16.5.6—Termination of Parental Rights ........................ 414 § 16.5.7—No Constitutional Right to Counsel ................. 415 § 16.5.8—The Constitutional Status of Long-Term
Foster Parents ................................................... 416 § 16.5.9—Equal Right to Appeal ...................................... 417
§ 16.6 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 418
Chapter 17 A CHILD’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM ..................................................... 419
Ann M. Haralambie Donald N. Duquette
§ 17.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 420
§ 17.2 REPORTING CHILD MALTREATMENT ................ 423
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§ 17.2.1—Reporting by Professionals .............................. 425 § 17.2.2—Reporting by Nonprofessionals ....................... 426 § 17.2.3—Liability for Making False or Malicious
Report .............................................................. 426
§ 17.3 INVESTIGATING CHILD MALTREATMENT ....................................................... 427
§ 17.3.1—Time Frame ...................................................... 427 § 17.3.2—Risk Assessment .............................................. 428 § 17.3.3—Safety Assessment ........................................... 429 § 17.3.4—Investigating Evidence of Child
Maltreatment .................................................... 429 § 17.3.5—Interpreting Labels of “Founded” or
“Unfounded” on Agency Reports .................... 430 § 17.3.6—Emergency Protective Custody ........................ 431
§ 17.4 INITIATING COURT ACTION ................................... 431
§ 17.5 EMERGENCY REMOVAL/DETENTION ................. 432
§ 17.6 PRETRIAL DISCOVERY AND MOTION PRACTICE ..................................................................... 434
§ 17.7 ADJUDICATION ........................................................... 435
§ 17.8 DISPOSITION ................................................................ 436
§ 17.9 CASE PLANS ................................................................. 438
§ 17.10 REVIEW HEARINGS ................................................... 440
§ 17.11 PERMANENCY HEARINGS ....................................... 442
§ 17.12 TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ............... 444
§ 17.13 POST-TERMINATION REVIEW HEARINGS ......... 446
§ 17.14 ACHIEVING PERMANENCE FOR THE CHILD ............................................................................. 447
Chapter 18 CASE ASSESSMENT AND THEORY ....................................... 449 Ann M. Haralambie
§ 18.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 450
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§ 18.2 OVERVIEW OF CASE ASSESSMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE ................ 451
§ 18.3 INVESTIGATING THE FACTS................................... 452
§ 18.3.1—Getting Started on Fact Investigation ............... 452 § 18.3.2—Records and Interviews .................................... 453 § 18.3.3—Interviews with the Child and Witnesses ......... 454
§ 18.4 ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS FOR CASE
ASSESSMENT ................................................................ 455
§ 18.5 DEVELOPING A THEORY OF THE CASE .............. 455
§ 18.6 THE CHILD’S ROLE IN CASE ASSESSMENT ................................................................ 457
§ 18.7 DETERMINING THE CHILD’S POSITION .............. 458
§ 18.7.1—Open-Ended Questions..................................... 458 § 18.7.2—Children’s Participation in Court
Proceedings ...................................................... 460
§ 18.8 CASE ASSESSMENT AND THEORY DEVELOPMENT AT EACH STAGE .......................... 461
§ 18.8.1—Initial Filing and Pre-Adjudication .................. 461 § 18.8.2—Adjudicatory Hearing or Fact-Finding ............. 462 § 18.8.3—Disposition ....................................................... 463 § 18.8.4—Permanency Hearings and Termination
of Parental Rights ............................................. 465
§ 18.9 ROLE OF THEORY OF THE CASE IN EXTRAJUDICIAL ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES.......................................................... 466
§ 18.10 IDENTIFYING SUBJECTIVE BIAS IN DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS ................................. 467
§ 18.11 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 467
Chapter 19 INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES .................... 469 Ann M. Haralambie
§ 19.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 470
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§ 19.2 UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT .......... 470
§ 19.3 PARENTAL KIDNAPPING PREVENTION ACT .................................................................................. 473
§ 19.4 INTERSTATE COMPACTS ......................................... 474
§ 19.4.1—Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) ............................................... 475
§ 19.4.2—Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) ......................... 478
§ 19.4.3—Interstate Compact on Mental Health (ICMH) ............................................................ 478
§ 19.5 INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND
ENABLING LAWS ........................................................ 479
§ 19.5.1—Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) and ICARA ............................................................. 479
§ 19.5.2—Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) and IAA ...................... 481
§ 19.6 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONS AND
PROTOCOLS ................................................................. 482
§ 19.6.1—UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime .............................................. 483
§ 19.6.2—UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) ..................................................... 484
§ 19.7 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 492
Chapter 20 CONFIDENTIALITY .................................................................. 493 Ann M. Haralambie
§ 20.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 493
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§ 20.2 WHEN CONFIDENTIALITY GENERALLY DOES NOT APPLY ........................................................ 495
§ 20.2.1—Court-Ordered Evaluations and Examinations .................................................... 495
§ 20.2.2—Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting................. 496
§ 20.3 CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS ......................... 496
§ 20.3.1—Child Abuse and Neglect Records ................... 497 § 20.3.2—Health Records and HIPAA ............................. 499 § 20.3.3—Substance Abuse Treatment Records ............... 504 § 20.3.4—School Records — FERPA .............................. 508 § 20.3.5—School Records — IDEA ................................. 509
§ 20.4 WHO MAY ASSERT OR WAIVE
CONFIDENTIAL PRIVILEGES .................................. 511
§ 20.5 CONFIDENTIALITY OF JUVENILE COURT PROCEEDINGS ............................................................. 515
§ 20.5.1—Pros and Cons of Open Court Proceedings ...................................................... 516
Chapter 21 COLLATERAL PROCEEDINGS ............................................... 521 Ann M. Haralambie Erin Han Sharlyn Grace Steven Pick Richard Cozzola
§ 21.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 522
§ 21.2 COORDINATING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ............. 523
§ 21.3 DELINQUENCY AND STATUS OFFENSES ............. 526
§ 21.3.1—Juvenile Records, Collateral Consequences, and Expungement .................... 527
§ 21.4 CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ....................................... 529
§ 21.4.1—Interface Between Civil Child Protection and Criminal Prosecution................ 529
§ 21.4.2—The Child’s Attorney or Guardian Ad Litem in the Criminal Case ............................... 532
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§ 21.4.3—Protective Orders ............................................. 533
§ 21.5 DIVORCE, CHILD CUSTODY, AND VISITATION PROCEEDINGS .................................... 534
§ 21.5.1—Staying Together or Divorcing ........................ 534 § 21.5.2—Child Welfare and Family Court
Interaction ........................................................ 537
§ 21.6 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE .............................................. 539
§ 21.6.1—Orders of Protection ......................................... 541
§ 21.7 GUARDIANSHIPS ......................................................... 542
§ 21.8 EDUCATION .................................................................. 543
§ 21.8.1—Child Advocates............................................... 544 § 21.8.2—Special Education ............................................ 545 § 21.8.3—School Discipline ............................................. 549 § 21.8.4—The Role of the Child’s Juvenile Court
Attorney in Education Matters ......................... 550
§ 21.9 ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS ................................... 550
§ 21.9.1—Expungement Administrative Appeals ............ 551 § 21.9.2—Child Welfare Service and Assistance
Administrative Appeals ................................... 552
Chapter 22 IMMIGRATION ISSUES — REPRESENTING CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT UNITED STATES CITIZENS ..................................................................................... 557
David B. Thronson Veronica T. Thronson
§ 22.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 558
§ 22.2 SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS ......... 559
§ 22.2.1—Juvenile Court Dependency ............................. 560 § 22.2.2—Viability of Reunification with One or
Both Parents ..................................................... 562 § 22.2.3—Best Interests of the Child ................................ 565 § 22.2.4—Age and Continuing Dependency .................... 565
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§ 22.2.5—Application to USCIS and Grounds of Inadmissibility .................................................. 566
§ 22.3 VAWA, U AND T VISAS, AND OTHER
IMMIGRATION RELIEF ............................................. 567
§ 22.3.1—Violence Against Women Act ......................... 567 § 22.3.2—U Visas ............................................................. 568 § 22.3.3—T Visas ............................................................. 569 § 22.3.4—Other Forms of Immigration Relief ................. 570 § 22.3.5—Prosecutorial Discretion and Deferred
Action ............................................................... 570
§ 22.4 IMMIGRATION ISSUES IN CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES................................................... 571
§ 22.5 RESOURCES .................................................................. 574
Chapter 23 ADVOCACY FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENT PROCEEDINGS ........................... 575
Bernard P. Perlmutter
§ 23.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 576
§ 23.2 BACKGROUND ............................................................. 577
§ 23.3 THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK....................................... 580
§ 23.3.1—Parham v. J.R. .................................................. 580 § 23.3.2—State Laws ........................................................ 585 § 23.3.3—Provisions Governing Psychiatric
Commitment of Foster Children ...................... 586
§ 23.4 THERAPEUTIC JURISPRUDENCE CONSIDERATIONS ...................................................... 588
§ 23.5 ETHICAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHILD’S ATTORNEY .................................. 592
§ 23.5.1—Lawyer as Counselor ........................................ 594 § 23.5.2—Lawyer as Negotiator and Mediator ................. 596 § 23.5.3—Lawyer as Zealous Advocate ........................... 597
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§ 23.6 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS WITHIN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS AND HOSPITALS ...................................... 598
§ 23.7 ADVOCACY FOR OTHER LEGAL ENTITLEMENTS AND SERVICES FOR THE CHILD .................................................................... 601
§ 23.8 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 604
Chapter 24 ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ....................................... 607
Kristin Kelly Kathleen Mcnaught Janet Stotland
§ 24.1 WHY IS EDUCATION ADVOCACY SO IMPORTANT? ............................................................... 609
§ 24.2 BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE: A FRAMEWORK FOR EDUCATION ADVOCACY ................................ 609
§ 24.2.1—Youth Should Have the Opportunity to Remain in Their Same School When in Their Best Interest ............................................ 610
§ 24.2.2—Youth Should Have Seamless Transitions Between Schools and School Districts When School Moves Occur ............................................................... 610
§ 24.2.3—Young Children Should Enter School Ready to Learn ................................................. 611
§ 24.2.4—Youth Should Have the Opportunity and Support to Participate Fully in All Aspects of the School Experience ................... 611
§ 24.2.5—Youth Should Have Supports to Prevent School Dropout, Truancy, and Disciplinary Actions ........................................ 611
§ 24.2.6—Youth Should Be Involved and Engaged in All Aspects of Their Education and Educational Planning and Be Empowered to Advocate for Their Education Needs and Pursuits ...................................................... 611
§ 24.2.7—Youth Should Have an Adult Who Is Invested in Their Education During and After Their Time in Out-of-Home Care........... 612
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§ 24.2.8—Youth Should Have Supports to Enter and Complete Postsecondary Education .......... 612
§ 24.3 SCHOOL STABILITY AND CONTINUITY .............. 613
§ 24.3.1—What Federal Child Welfare and Education Laws Support School Stability for Students in Foster Care? .............. 613
§ 24.3.2—How Can Advocates Ensure That Youth Get the Transportation Needed to Maintain School Stability? ............................... 615
§ 24.3.3—How Can Advocates Ensure Appropriate Access to Students’ Education Records? ......... 616
§ 24.4 SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY ........................ 617
§ 24.4.1—Why Is Special Education Advocacy Critical for Children in Foster Care? ................ 617
§ 24.4.2—IDEA Overview ............................................... 618 § 24.4.3—Special Education Decision-Makers ................ 619 § 24.4.4—Getting a Child’s Education Records
and Evaluation .................................................. 620 § 24.4.5—Getting the Child Special Education and
Related Services in the Least Restrictive Environment ..................................................... 623
§ 24.4.6—How Should the IDEA Parent or Advocate Monitor the Student’s Progress and the Implementation of the IEP? .................................................................. 627
§ 24.4.7—Dispute Resolution and Enforcement ............... 628 § 24.4.8—Navigating the IDEA and the Fostering
Connections Act ............................................... 631 § 24.4.9—Other Issues ...................................................... 633
§ 24.5 YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, TRANSITION
PLANNING, AND POSTSECONDARY SUPPORTS ...................................................................... 634
§ 24.5.1—Why Is Youth Engagement in Education Planning and in Obtaining Postsecondary Education So Critical for Children in Foster Care? ..................................................... 634
§ 24.5.2—How Should Youth Be Engaged in Case Planning and Permanency Hearings? ............... 635
§ 24.5.3—How Can Advocates Promote “Normalcy” in a Youth’s Education? ............... 635
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§ 24.5.4—How Can Advocates Help Youth to Obtain Postsecondary Education Support and Funding? ...................................... 636
§ 24.6 SELECTED LINKS AND RESOURCES FOR
ADVOCATES ................................................................. 638
Chapter 25 FOSTER YOUTH: TRANSITIONING FROM FOSTER CARE INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTHOOD .............................................................................. 641
Melanie Delgado Robert C. Fellmeth
§ 25.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 642
§ 25.2 FEDERAL LAW LEADING UP TO FOSTERING CONNECTIONS .................................... 644
§ 25.2.1—Chafee Foster Care Independence Act 1999 ................................................................. 644
§ 25.2.2—Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers (ETV) 2002 ...................................... 645
§ 25.2.3—The Affordable Care Act: Health Care to Age 26 ......................................................... 647
§ 25.3 FEDERAL FOSTERING CONNECTIONS TO
SUCCESS AND INCREASING ADOPTIONS ACT .................................................................................. 648
§ 25.3.1—Fostering Connections Case Study: California ......................................................... 650
§ 25.4 LAWS AND POLICIES IMPEDING FOSTER
YOUTH TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY ............................................................... 661
§ 25.4.1—Federal Restrictions on Foster Youth Resources ......................................................... 661
§ 25.4.2—State Interception of Foster Youth Social Security Benefits ................................... 662
§ 25.5 SPECIALIZED FEDERAL AND STATE
DISABILITY PROGRAMS .......................................... 664
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§ 25.5.1—Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — Disability Benefits ............................................ 664
§ 25.5.2—Special Needs and Self-Sufficiency Trusts ................................................................ 666
§ 25.6 SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSIDERATIONS ........... 668
§ 25.7 CHECKLIST FOR ATTORNEYS ................................ 669
Chapter 26 FAMILY-CENTERED DECISION-MAKING AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION .............................. 675
Kelly Browe Olson
§ 26.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 676
§ 26.2 MEDIATION ................................................................... 680
§ 26.2.1—Definition ......................................................... 680 § 26.2.2—Philosophy and Principles ................................ 682 § 26.2.3—The Mediation Process ..................................... 683
§ 26.3 FAMILY GROUP DECISION-MAKING
PROCESSES ................................................................... 687
§ 26.3.1—Philosophy and Principles ................................ 688 § 26.3.2—Structure of Family Group Decision-
Making ............................................................. 690
§ 26.4 SPECIFIC USES OF FGC AND ADR IN CHILD WELFARE CASES .......................................... 691
§ 26.4.1—Communication Issues ..................................... 691 § 26.4.2—Transition Meetings ......................................... 692 § 26.4.3—Voluntary Relinquishment Counseling ............ 693
§ 26.5 ADDITIONAL TOPICS AND CONCERNS ................ 695
§ 26.5.1—Role of Mediator/Facilitator ............................. 695 § 26.5.2—Role of Children and Young Adults ................. 695 § 26.5.3—Timing .............................................................. 696 § 26.5.4—Effectiveness of ADR in Child Welfare ........... 696
§ 26.6 LEGAL RIGHTS AND SAFETY CONCERNS .......... 698
§ 26.7 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 699
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Chapter 27 ESTABLISHING LEGAL PERMANENCE FOR THE CHILD .................................................................................. 701
Lashanda Taylor Adams
§ 27.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 702
§ 27.2 PRIORITY FOR PERMANENCE ............................... 703
§ 27.3 CUSTODY WITH NON-OFFENDING PARENT .......................................................................... 704
§ 27.4 TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ............... 705
§ 27.5 ADOPTION ..................................................................... 707
§ 27.5.1—Adoption Subsidies .......................................... 708 § 27.5.2—Post-Adoption Contact ..................................... 711
§ 27.6 PERMANENT GUARDIANSHIP ................................ 717
§ 27.7 SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP .................................. 719
§ 27.8 STANDBY GUARDIANSHIP ....................................... 721
§ 27.9 ANOTHER PLANNED PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT .......................................... 723
§ 27.10 RE-ESTABLISHING PARENTAL RIGHTS AFTER TERMINATION .............................................. 726
§ 27.10.1—Legal Orphans ................................................ 726 § 27.10.2—Reinstatement of Parental Rights
Statutes ........................................................... 727 § 27.10.3—Restoring Parental Rights .............................. 729
§ 27.11 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 729
Chapter 28 CHILD WELFARE APPELLATE ADVOCACY ..................... 731 Vivek S. Sankaran
§ 28.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 732
§ 28.2 APPEALABLE ORDERS .............................................. 733
§ 28.2.1—Appeals as a Matter of Right ........................... 733
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§ 28.2.2—Discretionary Appeals ...................................... 733
§ 28.3 ASSISTING A CLIENT IN DECIDING WHETHER TO APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEALS .................................................................. 733
§ 28.3.1—Client Interview ................................................ 733 § 28.3.2—Factual Investigation/Legal Research .............. 734 § 28.3.3—Client Counseling ............................................. 735
§ 28.4 FILING AN APPEAL ..................................................... 735
§ 28.4.1—Initiating the Appeal ......................................... 735 § 28.4.2—The Record ....................................................... 735 § 28.4.3—Filing the Brief ................................................. 736 § 28.4.4—Supplemental Authority ................................... 742 § 28.4.5—Answers ............................................................ 742 § 28.4.6—Reply Briefs ..................................................... 742 § 28.4.7—Amicus Curiae Briefs ....................................... 743
§ 28.5 SPOTTING LEGAL ERRORS ..................................... 743
§ 28.5.1—Categories of Errors ......................................... 743 § 28.5.2—Questions to Help Counsel Identify
Potential Errors in TPR Appeals on Behalf of Parents .............................................. 744
§ 28.6 ORAL ARGUMENT ...................................................... 745
§ 28.6.1—Requesting Oral Argument .............................. 745 § 28.6.2—How to Prepare for Oral Argument .................. 746 § 28.6.3—Tips on How to Present an Effective
Oral Argument ................................................. 746 § 28.6.4—After the Oral Argument .................................. 747
§ 28.7 STATE SUPREME COURT PRACTICE .................... 748
§ 28.8 HELPFUL RESOURCES .............................................. 748
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IV. THE ROLE AND DUTIES OF LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapter 29 AGENCY REPRESENTATION IN CHILD WELFARE PROCEEDINGS ...................................................... 751
Brooke N. Silverthorn
§ 29.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 752
§ 29.2 MODELS OF REPRESENTATION: WHO IS THE CLIENT? ............................................................... 753
§ 29.3 DEFINING THE RELATIONSHIP IN THE AGENCY REPRESENTATION MODEL ................... 755
§ 29.3.1—Decision-Making ............................................. 755 § 29.3.2—Staffing and Working Together ....................... 757
§ 29.4 ENSURING THE AGENCY MEETS ITS
LEGAL MANDATES .................................................... 758
§ 29.4.1—Understanding the “Business” of the Agency ............................................................. 758
§ 29.4.2—Federal and State Law Mandates and Considerations ................................................. 758
§ 29.4.3—Reasonable Efforts Requirements and Findings ........................................................... 761
§ 29.4.4—Law Provides Limits, But Also Authority .......................................................... 763
§ 29.4.5—Constitutional Law and Agency Action ........... 764
§ 29.5 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 766
Chapter 30 REPRESENTING PARENTS IN CHILD WELFARE CASES ............................................................................................ 767
Vivek S. Sankaran
§ 30.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 768
§ 30.2 THE ROLE OF PARENT’S COUNSEL ...................... 770
§ 30.2.1—Trust ................................................................. 771 § 30.2.2—Defining the Client’s Goals ............................. 774 § 30.2.3—Defining the Scope of Representation ............. 776 § 30.2.4—Institutional Pressures ...................................... 776
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§ 30.2.5—Representing Non-Offending Parents .............. 777
§ 30.3 THE PRELIMINARY HEARING ................................ 784
§ 30.3.1—Eliciting Information ........................................ 784 § 30.3.2—Client Counseling ............................................. 785 § 30.3.3—Negotiating ....................................................... 788 § 30.3.4—Courtroom Advocacy ....................................... 789
§ 30.4 PRE-ADJUDICATION PROCEEDINGS .................... 793
§ 30.4.1—Pre-Adjudication Counseling ........................... 793 § 30.4.2—Maximizing the Parent’s Opportunity to
Receive Agency Services ................................. 794 § 30.4.3—Exploring Settlement Possibilities ................... 795 § 30.4.4—Preparing for a Trial or Fact-Finding
Hearing ............................................................. 797 § 30.4.5—The Pretrial Hearing ......................................... 798
§ 30.5 THE TRIAL .................................................................... 799
§ 30.5.1—Use Traditional Trial Practice Techniques ....................................................... 799
§ 30.5.2—Theory of the Case ........................................... 800 § 30.5.3—Preserving Issues for Appeal ............................ 800
§ 30.6 DISPOSITIONAL HEARING ....................................... 802
§ 30.7 ADVOCACY BETWEEN HEARINGS ........................ 807
§ 30.8 REVIEW HEARINGS .................................................... 808
§ 30.9 PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING.................... 809
§ 30.10 TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ............... 812
§ 30.10.1—Investigation and Analysis ............................. 812 § 30.10.2—Pretrial Motions .............................................. 813 § 30.10.3—Theory of the Case ......................................... 813
§ 30.11 APPELLATE ADVOCACY .......................................... 814
§ 30.12 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 815
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Chapter 31 REPRESENTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH ......................... 817 Donald N. Duquette Ann Haralambie
§ 31.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 818
§ 31.2 SOURCES OF LEGAL AUTHORITY GOVERNING CHILD REPRESENTATION ............. 819
§ 31.2.1—Federal Statutory Law ...................................... 819 § 31.2.2—State Law and Local Standards ........................ 820
§ 31.3 GENERAL AUTHORITY AND DUTIES ................... 823
§ 31.3.1—Qualifications ................................................... 823 § 31.3.2—Presumption that Ethical Responsibility
to a Child Client Is the Same as to an Adult ................................................................ 824
§ 31.3.3—Presumption that Normal Client-Lawyer Relationship Is Maintained .............................. 825
§ 31.3.4—Attorney-Client Privilege ................................. 825 § 31.3.5—Conflict of Interest — Representing
Siblings ............................................................ 827 § 31.3.6—Conflict of Interest — Payment of
Attorney Fees by a Third Party ........................ 829 § 31.3.7—Waiver of Rights .............................................. 830
§ 31.4 ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN ............................................ 832
§ 31.4.1—Engage with Child; Enter the Child’s World ............................................................... 832
§ 31.4.2—Child’s Wishes Are Always Relevant.............. 834 § 31.4.3—Competent, Independent, and Zealous
Advocacy ......................................................... 834
§ 31.5 IDENTIFYING THE ADVOCACY GOALS OF THE CASE ................................................................ 836
§ 31.5.1—Determining the Child’s Capacity ................... 836 § 31.5.2—How Much Weight Is Given to the
Child’s Wishes? ............................................... 838
§ 31.6 SPECIAL CHALLENGES FOR THE CHILD’S LAWYER ....................................................... 842
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§ 31.6.1—Identifying Permanency Needs and Protecting Important Affiliations ..................... 843
§ 31.6.2—Sibling Association .......................................... 844 § 31.6.3—Maintaining the Child’s Property,
Records, and Social History ............................. 845 § 31.6.4—LGBTQ Children ............................................. 845 § 31.6.5—Advocating for Appropriate Closure
After Termination ............................................ 847
§ 31.7 DEVELOPING THE CHILD REPRESENTATION FIELD ........................................ 848
§ 31.7.1—Emerging Consensus on the Role, Duties, and Training ......................................... 848
§ 31.7.2—Who are the Lawyers Representing Children? .......................................................... 849
§ 31.7.3—Impact of Organizational Structure .................. 850 § 31.7.4—Multidisciplinary Law Practice ........................ 853 § 31.7.5—Certification ..................................................... 854
§ 31.8 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 855
V. COURTROOM ADVOCACY
Chapter 32 CHILDREN IN COURT .............................................................. 857 John E. B. Myers
§ 32.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 858
§ 32.2 SUGGESTIBILITY ........................................................ 858
§ 32.2.1—Age and Suggestibility ..................................... 859 § 32.2.2—Questioning by Authority Figures; the
Social Demands of Interviews ......................... 861 § 32.2.3—Central Details Versus Peripheral
Details .............................................................. 861 § 32.2.4—Ambiguous Body Touch .................................. 862 § 32.2.5—Participant Versus Bystander ........................... 863 § 32.2.6—Negative Stereotypes and Accusatory
Atmosphere ...................................................... 863 § 32.2.7—Lowering Suggestibility ................................... 865
§ 32.3 TESTIMONIAL COMPETENCE ................................ 866
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§ 32.3.1—Capacity to Observe ......................................... 866 § 32.3.2—Memory ........................................................... 867 § 32.3.3—Capacity to Communicate ................................ 867 § 32.3.4—Intelligence ...................................................... 867 § 32.3.5—Understanding the Difference Between
Truth and Falsehood ........................................ 868 § 32.3.6—Duty to Testify Truthfully................................ 871 § 32.3.7—Burden of Proof Regarding Testimonial
Competence ..................................................... 873 § 32.3.8—Oath or Affirmation ......................................... 873
§ 32.4 THE EFFECTS OF TESTIFYING ON
CHILDREN: PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH .................................................................... 874
§ 32.5 WHILE CHILDREN ARE ON THE WITNESS STAND ............................................................................. 875
§ 32.5.1—Emotional Support ........................................... 875 § 32.5.2—Preparing Children to Testify .......................... 875 § 32.5.3—Scheduling a Young Child’s Testimony .......... 875 § 32.5.4—Leading on Direct ............................................ 876 § 32.5.5—Testimonial Aids .............................................. 876 § 32.5.6—Allowing a Child Witness to Have a
Comfort Item ................................................... 876 § 32.5.7—Recesses During Child’s Testimony ................ 876
§ 32.6 HEARSAY ....................................................................... 877
§ 32.6.1—Hearsay Defined .............................................. 877 § 32.6.2—Exceptions to the Hearsay Rule ....................... 878 § 32.6.3—Hearsay and the Confrontation Clause ............ 886
§ 32.7 SHOULD CHILDREN ATTEND COURT
HEARINGS? ................................................................... 892
Chapter 33 SPECIAL EVIDENTIARY ISSUES ........................................... 895 John E. B. Myers
§ 33.1 SELECTED EVIDENCE ISSUES ................................ 895
§ 33.2 EXPERT TESTIMONY ................................................. 896
§ 33.2.1—Qualifications to Testify as Expert Witness ............................................................ 896
§ 33.2.2—Bases for Expert Opinion ................................. 897
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§ 33.3 SYNDROME EVIDENCE ............................................. 898
§ 33.3.1—Battered Child Syndrome ................................. 901 § 33.3.2—Battering Parent Syndrome .............................. 902 § 33.3.3—Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy .................... 903 § 33.3.4—Abusive Head Trauma — Shaken Baby
Syndrome ......................................................... 905 § 33.3.5—Posttraumatic Stress Disorder .......................... 907 § 33.3.6—Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in
Litigation .......................................................... 907 § 33.3.7—Acute Distress Disorder ................................... 909 § 33.3.8—Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation
Syndrome ......................................................... 910 § 33.3.9—Parental Alienation Syndrome ......................... 911
Chapter 34 TRIAL ADVOCACY .................................................................... 913 Steven Lubet John E.B. Myers
§ 34.1 THE IDEA OF A PERSUASIVE STORY .................... 915
§ 34.1.1—Trials as Stories ................................................ 915 § 34.1.2—A Hypothetical Case — In Re A.C. .................. 916
§ 34.2 PREPARING A PERSUASIVE TRIAL
STORY: YOUR THEORY, THEME, AND FRAME ........................................................................... 918
§ 34.2.1—Theory .............................................................. 918 § 34.2.2—Theme .............................................................. 919 § 34.2.3—Frame ............................................................... 919
§ 34.3 PLANNING YOUR CASE-IN-CHIEF ......................... 920
§ 34.3.1—Consider Your Potential Witnesses and Exhibits ............................................................ 920
§ 34.3.2—Evaluate Each Witness ..................................... 920 § 34.3.3—Decide Which Witness to Call ......................... 921
§ 34.4 PLANNING YOUR CROSS EXAMINATIONS ......... 922
§ 34.5 REEVALUATE EVERYTHING ................................... 923
§ 34.6 EVIDENTIARY FOUNDATIONS ................................ 923
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§ 34.6.1—The Requirement of Foundation ...................... 923 § 34.6.2—Components of Foundation .............................. 924
§ 34.7 DIRECT EXAMINATION ........................................... 925
§ 34.7.1—The Role of Direct Examination ...................... 925 § 34.7.2—Introduce Undisputed Facts ............................. 925 § 34.7.3—Enhance the Likelihood of Disputed
Facts ................................................................. 925 § 34.7.4—Reflect on the Credibility of Witnesses ........... 926 § 34.7.5—Competence of Witnesses ................................ 926 § 34.7.6—Non-Leading Questions ................................... 926 § 34.7.7—Narratives ......................................................... 927 § 34.7.8—The Lay Witness Opinion Rule ....................... 928 § 34.7.9—Refreshing Recollection ................................... 928 § 34.7.10—Planning Direct Examinations ....................... 929 § 34.7.11—Content ........................................................... 929 § 34.7.12—Organization and Structure ............................ 932 § 34.7.13—Direct Examination of the CPS Worker
and Doctor in In Re A.C. ............................... 932
§ 34.8 CROSS EXAMINATION .............................................. 934
§ 34.8.1—The Role of Cross Examination ....................... 934 § 34.8.2—Leading Questions Permitted ........................... 934 § 34.8.3—Cross Examination Limited by the
Scope of Direct; Plus Impeachment ................. 934 § 34.8.4—Content of Cross Examination ......................... 935 § 34.8.5—Purposes of Cross Examination ....................... 935 § 34.8.6—Organization of Cross Examination ................. 936 § 34.8.7—Progressive Approach to Cross
Examination ..................................................... 938 § 34.8.8—Control the Witness ......................................... 939
§ 34.9 IMPEACHMENT TECHNIQUES ............................... 940
§ 34.9.1—Prior Inconsistent Statement ............................ 940 § 34.9.2—Contradiction ................................................... 941 § 34.9.3—Specific Acts of Untruthfulness ....................... 942 § 34.9.4—Conviction Used to Impeach............................ 942 § 34.9.5—Bias .................................................................. 943 § 34.9.6—Opportunity to Observe ................................... 944 § 34.9.7—Memory ........................................................... 945
§ 34.10 EXPERT TESTIMONY ................................................. 945
§ 34.10.1—Expert Testimony on Ultimate Issues ............ 945
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§ 34.10.2—Qualification ................................................... 946 § 34.10.3—Opinion and Theory ....................................... 947 § 34.10.4—Cross Examination of Expert
Witnesses ....................................................... 947 § 34.10.5—Cross Examination of the CPS Worker
and the Doctor in In Re A.C. .......................... 949
§ 34.11 CONCLUSION .............................................................. 950
Chapter 35 SYSTEM AND POLICY ADVOCACY ...................................... 951 Casey Trupin
§ 35.1 WHY DO SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY? ......................... 952
§ 35.2 TOOLS FOR SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY ..................... 952
§ 35.2.1—Introduction ...................................................... 952 § 35.2.2—Linking with Systems Advocates ..................... 952
§ 35.3 APPEALS ........................................................................ 954
§ 35.4 LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY ....................................... 955
§ 35.4.1—Legislative Advocacy Does Not Stand Alone ................................................................ 955
§ 35.4.2—Can You Do Legislative Advocacy? ................ 956 § 35.4.3—How to Effectively Engage in
Legislative Advocacy ....................................... 957
§ 35.5 SPECIALIZED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ......... 959
§ 35.6 PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PRESSURE .................. 960
§ 35.7 FEDERAL AND STATE COMPLAINTS .................... 960
§ 35.8 ETHICAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER ............................. 961
§ 35.9 CONCLUSION ............................................................... 962
APPENDICES
Appendix A ABA MODEL ACT GOVERNING THE REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN IN ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND DEPENDENCY PROCEEDINGS ................. 965
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Appendix B QIC BEST PRACTICE MODEL OF CHILD REPRESENTATION ................................................................... 981
Appendix C ABA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT CHILDREN IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ........................................................................ 993
Appendix D ABA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING PARENTS IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ............................................................ 1019
Appendix E ABA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR LAWYERS REPRESENTING CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES ............... 1065
INDEX .................................................................................................................. 1095