NCJ Number
187565
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2001 Pages: 11-28
Date Published
2001
Length
18 pages
Annotation
In 1998 Michigan established a family court with jurisdiction over most family-law cases; this study examines the child welfare workers' role in creating the family court, the family court's impact on child welfare workers' practice, and child welfare workers' efforts to educate other professionals about the potential benefits of the family court system.
Abstract
A questionnaire was distributed to professionals working within the following fields in the family court system: child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, domestic relations, court administration, and therapy and counseling. Approximately 300 surveys were distributed to such workers, and 177 questionnaires were completed and returned. Surveys were collected from at least one child welfare worker in 20 of Michigan's 57 judicial circuits. The survey found that child welfare workers were not actively involved in the creation of the family court and have not aggressively sought to educate other professionals about the family court's potential. Further, although child welfare workers' reception of the family court has been largely positive (or at least neutral), child welfare workers must take greater advantage of the family court system to improve the effectiveness of their practice. Child welfare workers should be more aggressive in seeking more family-focused court orders. Only then will the family court have a more significant impact on their practice. 4 tables and 41 references