This is a unique family law resource, reflecting the real-world issues
that are critical for working with child clients in dependency and
family court settings. The authors--a psychologist who has worked with
children since the mid-1980s, and an attorney who almost exclusively
represents children in dependency court matters--recognize that lawyers
who represent children must understand them, the system in which they
are engaged, the services available to them, the schools they attend,
their ethnic and cultural issues, their special needs, the legal issues
they face outside of family and juvenile courts, and more. In addition,
lawyers need to understand the issues faced by the parents with whom
they live.
While some children's representatives work exclusively in this area and
want to delve deeper into the issues of family dynamics examined in this
book, this is also a useful resource for those who work with children's
cases less frequently or are just beginning in the area and have had
limited or no exposure to these issues. This clearly written and logical
guide is an informed resource accessible to professionals at any level
of experience.
Topics include:
- Conceptualizing the role of the children's representative, and well as
intriguing thoughts about how this can evolve in the future
- Critical psychological issues involved, including trauma, child
development, domestic violence, high-conflict separation and divorce,
alienated or resistant children, and other special circumstances
- Professional responsibilities, including ethical issues in
representing children, risks of bias in your work, and recognizing the
professional toll involved
Table of Contents
Introduction
Section I - Conceptualizing the Role
Chapter 1: The Role of Children's Representatives as They Stand Today
Chapter 2: Unique Questions Related to Our Work with Children
Chapter 3: Imagining a New Role
Section II - Critical Psychological Issues to Understand
Chapter 4: Trauma
Chapter 5: Child Development
Chapter 6: Introduction to Domestic Violence and Its Impact on
Children
Chapter 7: High-Conflict Separated and Divorced Parents
Chapter 8: Alienated-Resistant Children
Chapter 9: Special Circumstances
Section III - Professional Issues
Chapter 10: Ethical Issues in Representing Children
Chapter 11: Recognizing Risks of Bias and Illusion in Your Work
Chapter 12: The Professional Toll
Index
