Research has shown the critical role of effective representation of adults in Family Court proceedings.
- A 'national movement in parent representation' was described in a recent article in the Clearinghouse Review Journal of Poverty Law and Policy by NYU's Marty Guggenheim and Susan Jacobs of the Center for Family Representation. The article highlights several programs providing high quality representation to parents in family court matters, and cites research and statistics showing the considerable benefits to families, improvements to court efficiency, and overall cost savings that can result from effective legal representation for parents.
- The New York State Citizen Review Panels for Child Protective Services has released its 2013 Annual Report and Recommendations. The report says that “children need more than food, clothing and shelter to become fully functioning, successful adults, and that the child welfare system’s focus on risk-reduction is not enough.” Noting the “increased focus on child well-being” of the U.S. Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau, the Panel members “fully embrace this added emphasis and encourage social services districts in New York State to adopt this shift in focus to child well-being using trauma-informed and evidence-informed practices” that “nurture children, strengthen families, and build caring and responsive communities.” Click to access the Executive Summary and Full Report.
- High quality parent representation saves money and improves court efficiency according to the evidence cited in this review article published by the American Bar Association Center on Children and the law. In another study, detailed analysis of programs in Washington State showed increased reunification rates and reduced numbers of court continuances as a result of improved parent representation, while data on cost reductions achieved by the Center for Family Representation was used as evidence in the Enhancing the Quality of Parent Legal Representation Act of 2013 which seeks Federal funding for parent representation.
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