The manner in which a particular ungovernable child case (Child in Need of Supervision) came to be added to the formal legislative agenda is examined via the issue creation and agenda building model as proposed by Cobb and Elder (1982). Background case information and historical analysis of the Child in Need of Supervision matter is provided for…

Examines fundamental conflict between goal of social work system to protect and treat child and goal of criminal justice system to fairly prosecute defendant. Reviews most recent scientific studies regarding suggestibility and credibility of children as witnesses. Analyzes legal and strategic issues surrounding videotaped testimony of children.…

U.S. Supreme Court rule that child, through guardian ad litem, and biological mother could not sue in federal courts social worker and Winnebago County, Wisconsin, Department of Social Services for injuries caused by father because 14th Amendment to U.S. Constitution does not provide individuals with protection from private violence. Social…

This final report, a process evaluation, describes the Advanced Job Skills Training Project and the methodology the project used to develop competency-based training for child protective services specialists during their first 2 years of employment. A background section focuses on the managed staff development model, planning requirements, and the…

Considers principles for collecting competent evidence and provides case studies of a child and an adolescent to demonstrate evidence collection methods in social work practice. (Author/JAC)

This report presents Wisconsin state legislation dealing with custody arrangements. Part I gives key provisions of 1987 Assembly Bill 205. Part II reviews background activities related to the custody legislation. Part III discusses major issues relating to child custody arrangements, including definition clarification, child custody dispute…

Explores concept of empowerment-based social work practice and its application in public child welfare. Uses organizational theory to identify characteristics of child welfare agencies that impinge on empowerment-based practice and suggests strategies for staff to become more powerful in their dealings with the agency and community. (Author/ABL)

Notes that professionals from all over the world have been assisting Romania since the fall of the Ceausescu dictatorship in December 1989. Describes some of the difficulties faced by children and families in Romania. Contends that problems faced by Romanian families are massive, and professionals planning to help these families must learn about…

The author describes the process and development-related benefits of "participatory research." Her example is of the efforts of Canada's native people to resolve the issue of family and child welfare. (Author/CH)

Discusses ways in which the legal bases for child welfare systems can be reformed, in terms of the current methods by which cases enter the child welfare system, and ways that placement is decided and individual cases are moved through the system. (CMG)

A variety of objective measures have been developed to assess child abuse and neglect and that can be used by practitioners with minimal disruption in terms of time, energy, cost, and ease of use. Reviews instruments that child welfare workers, specifically, and practitioners involved in children's services, in general, can use in the assessment…

This report provides an Iowa state senator's perspective on developing state policies to foster collaboration at the service delivery level to meet the needs of children and families more effectively. The first chapter provides two case examples of children that the current system fails. It suggests that simply providing more funding or requiring…

Volunteering is a vital and widespread activity in the United States; in fact, volunteers perform many essential community functions. Those who believe that most volunteers are women with time on their hands, that volunteers just do "charity work," and that volunteers are a source of cheap labor who can replace paid professionals and…

This booklet presents a summary of state child protection statutes that have been enacted, amended or revised through the 1978 legislative session. Reporting statutes of each of the 50 states were analyzed and 13 elements of the child abuse reporting process were identified and discussed: (1) what elements of child abuse must be reported, (2) who…

Discusses legal divorce in Poland. Several changes in family law have been introduced to protect the welfare of children. Yet, because of the difficult conditions of everyday life in Poland, the effects of divorce often prove a burden for the divorced person with children and for the extended family. (JAC)