Hughes, Rycus, Saunders-Adams, Hughes, and Hughes's article represents an important effort to critically examine the foundation of thought and empirical evidence associated with the rise in prominence of differential response (DR) within child welfare systems throughout the United States. The insights and criticisms offered are an important…

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 includes provisions to deny reunification services under specified conditions and gives states latitude to develop any number of additional "aggravated circumstances" in which parents need not be offered services. California legislators have developed a relatively large number of…

This document is a study of existing child abuse reporting legislation. It reflects law changes over the last five years, records the status of the law in each of the states and territories, notes novel approaches, discusses problem areas, and challenges some existing concepts. The monograph provides guidelines for communities seeking to modify…

This study examined child, parent, and case characteristics over 4 years in 200 cases of serious child maltreatment in Boston, Massachusetts. Comparison with 1985-1986 cases (before relevant state legislative changes) found children permanently removed from parental custody in the 1994 sample required only slightly less time to achieve permanent…

Examines the increasingly visible problem of child abuse and neglect and discusses how state and federal governments can most effectively act to deal with the problem. (JG)

After brief history of development of mandatory reporting laws to protect children from maltreatment and evaluation of assumptions underlying use of these laws for case finding, analyzes costs and benefits of reporting laws for four stakeholders (state, professionals, families, and children) and concludes that costs of laws outweigh benefits.…

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…

Examines the basic tenets of a l983 Texas law permitting videotaped interviews of child victims of abuse to be admissible in civil and criminal proceedings. Discusses how the law is being implemented and how it protects legal rights of child victims, alleged perpetrators, and society at large. (Author/NH)

Child abuse is an issue of growing public concern. Seven questions and answers are presented pertaining to the legal risks and responsibilities of school personnel in reporting cases of child abuse. (TE)

This document provides information on two pieces of legislation which affect children and adolescents in Canada. The introduction to "A Guide to the Young Offenders Act in Alberta" briefly reviews the development of the Young Offenders Act and examines the definition of a young person, offenses covered by the act, and amendments to the…

The National Parent Teacher Association acknowledges parents' primary child-rearing role, but questions the need for legislation to extend parents' constitutional rights. Parents already have numerous rights and options for fighting "unreasonable" government interference. The laws that upset parental rights proponents are needed to…

Despite a significant federal role in permanency planning as evidenced by Public Law 96-272, child welfare remains primarily a state responsibility and the states vary considerably in their approaches to it. In January 1986, a 50-state survey on major child welfare issues was conducted. The project was begun in 1983 as an attempt to ascertain…

This report was developed to highlight some of the most effective state laws that concern child victimization. It is intended for use by state legislators, governors, and state officials as well as by all citizens concerned about protecting children. A sampling of varied legislation from several states is included which demonstrates how the issues…

North Carolina's Child Abuse Reporting Law makes all citizens legally responsible for reporting incidents of child abuse and neglect. Professionals, such as doctors and teachers, must also give their professional opinions as to the nature, extent, and causes of the damaged child's condition. The basic purpose of the law is to identify children at…

This handbook was written to heighten public awareness and understanding about child abuse and to serve as a practical aid for persons who work with children, who are in the field of child abuse prevention, and who are mandated to report suspected cases of child abuse under the California Child Abuse Reporting Law. It provides an overview of the…