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Working with the Courts in Child Protection
Author(s):
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau.
Jones, William G. |
Year Published: 2006 |
Preface
Each day, the safety and well-being of children across the Nation are threatened by child abuse and neglect. Intervening effectively in the lives of these children and their families is not the sole responsibility of a single agency or professional group, but a shared community concern. The Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series has provided guidance on child protection to hundreds of thousands of multidisciplinary professionals and concerned community members since the late 1970s. The User Manual Series provides a foundation for understanding child maltreatment and the roles and responsibilities of various practitioners in its prevention, identification, investigation, assessment, and treatment. Through the years, the manuals have served as valuable resources for building knowledge, promoting effective practices, and enhancing community collaboration.
Since the last update of the User Manual Series in the early 1990s, a number of changes have occurred that dramatically affect each community's response to child maltreatment. The changing landscape reflects increased recognition of the complexity of issues facing parents and their children, new legislation, practice innovations, court improvements, and system reform efforts. Significant advances in research have helped shape new directions for interventions, while ongoing evaluations show "what works."
The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect within the Children's Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has developed this third edition of the User Manual Series to reflect increased knowledge and the evolving state of practice. The updated and new manuals are comprehensive in scope while also succinct in presentation and easy to follow, and they address trends and concerns relevant to today's professional.
This manual, Working with the Courts in Child Protection, provides a basis for understanding court processes most relevant to child abuse and neglect cases. The manual offers guidance and practical tips primarily for child protective services caseworkers. It also may be useful to other nonlegal professionals, such as those working in law enforcement, health care, mental health, and child advocacy, who wish to gain a better understanding of court processes.
This manual builds on information presented in other publications in the User Manual Series, particularly A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: A Foundation for Practice and Child Protective Services: A Guide for Caseworkers. Readers are encouraged to refer to other manuals relevant to their professions and interests.
This manualalong with the entire Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Seriesis available from Child Welfare Information Gateway. For a full list of available manuals and ordering information, contact: Child Welfare Information Gateway The manuals also are available online at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanual.cfm. |
This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.