Child Welfare and the Law Third Edition, by professor of social welfare and attorney Theodore J. Stein, PhD, provides an overview of the child welfare and judicial systems. Inside Dr. Stein examines the federal and state legislative and judicial foundations of modern child welfare practice; court decisions and their impact on the rights of birthparents, foster parents, and children; class action suits and their impact on child welfare; and the role of child welfare workers in the legal process. Appendices provide detailed instruction on conducting legal research and excerpts from a consent decree.

The third edition of Child Welfare and the Law offers new chapters on adoption law and professional liability. Dr. Stein has also expanded his original chapters on the rights of birth parents & foster parents and legal research strategies.

"Social workers who hope to provide reflective and well-informed services to families need a solid knowledge base upon which they can build their skills. Child Welfare and the Law offers just that."
Jill Duerr Berrick, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Social Welfare
Co-Director, Center for Child and Youth Policy
University of California at Berkeley

"Child Welfare and the Law should be at the top of the reading list for educators, students, practitioners, and anyone else who wants to understand the legislative and legal foundations of child welfare practice, client rights, and reform efforts."
Tina L. Rzepnicki, Ph.D.
Deputy Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs
The University of Chicago, The School of Social Service Administration

Table of Contents:

Part I Understanding the Relationship of Child Welfare and the Law
• The Child Welfare System
• The Judicial System

Part II Legislative and Legal Foundations of Child Welfare Practice
• Federal Legislation
• State Law: The Care and Protection of Children
• Adoption
• Protecting Children with Disabilities

Part III Court Decisions and Client Rights
• Constitutional Framework
• The Right of Birthparents
• The Rights of Foster Parents
• The Rights of Foster Parents
• Children's Rights

Part IV Legislative Versus Judicial Reform
• The Litigation Process
• Implementing Reform Measures

Part V Participation on the Legal Process
• Professional Liability
• Evidence and the Burden of Proof
• Building a Case Record
• Testimony of Children
• Testimony of Workers

Part VI Conclusion

Part VII Appendixes

Appendix A: Conducting Legal Research

Appendix B: Excerpt from a Consent Decree

Product Code: 425
ISBN: 978-1587600425
Published 2006