WORKING WITH THE COURTS IN CHILD PROTECTION

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based upon the User Manual developed by 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. This latest edition reflects increased knowledge and the evolving state of practice. The manual is comprehensive in scope while also succinct in presentation and easy to follow. The course provides a basis for understanding court processes most relevant to child abuse and neglect cases. It offers guidance and practical tips for professionals who work in child protection. It also may be useful to other 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. 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. 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." This course is targeted for beginning, intermediate and advanced practitioners. Objectives - Specifically, a professional will: 1. Identify juvenile and criminal court processes. 2. Recognize domestic relations and other court proceedings relevant to child protection. 3. Identify issues involved in going to court in youth proceedings.