Termination of parental rights (TPR) is not only a matter of the family
any more. Now, we face termination of parental rights as one of social
institution on what should be guided for child rearing practice and why
we should make a decision to intervene the State into the family. This
study seeks to provide empirical evidence that examine why and to what
extent children who have been exposed to child maltreatment and placed
in foster care experience TPR and permanency outcome of adoption. The
discussion of this study includes the deliberate discussion on the
parentchild relationship and the primary principles of the State
intervention into the family in cases of child abuse and neglect with a
review on the legal standards/ grounds for the involuntary TPR for
foster children according to the changes of child welfare policy goals
in the American society. Since the ASFA of 1997 was enacted, in
particular, it has been widely accepted that TPR proceedings for foster
children who cannot be reunified with their natural parents should be
pursued. Thus, it can be argued that the involuntary TPR becomes an
alternative to family preservation/reunification and an essential
mechanism to achieve the permanency outcome for children in foster care.
This book is addressed to social workers and policy makers in the child
welfare field as well as practitioners in family law. It is also
directed towards researchers in social practice and policy, child
welfare and family services.
