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20 U. Mich. J.L. Reform 341 (1986-1987)
Representation of Children in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: An Empirical Look at What Constitutes Effective Representation

handle is hein.journals/umijlr20 and id is 351 raw text is: REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN
IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
CASES: AN EMPIRICAL LOOK AT
WHAT CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE
REPRESENTATIONt
Donald N. Duquette* and Sarah H. Ramsey**
Despite a widespread conviction that children ought to be in-
dependently represented in court proceedings in the United
States, little consensus exists over what independent representa-
tion should encompass. What should be the duties and responsi-
bilities of the child advocate in civil protection proceedings?
Who should represent the child in such cases? How can effective
representation of the child be accomplished? This empirical
study sought to address these questions. First, the study concep-
tualized a particular role for the child's representative. The
study expected representatives to act as aggressive and ambi-
tious advocates, to be concerned with a broad range of the
child's interests-both legal and nonlegal-and to provide con-
tinuous representation throughout the civil protection proceed-
t Funding for this study was provided by Grant No. 90-CA-868 from the National
Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau, Administration for Children,
Youth and Families, Office of Human Development Services, United States Department
of Health and Human Services; by the Cook Research Fund of the University of
Michigan Law School; and by the Center for Interdisciplinary Legal Studies, Syracuse
University College of Law.
The authors wish to thank the many individuals who assisted in this study, especially
Judge Thomas L. Gadola and Mr. Gerald Thalhammer of the Genesee County Probate
Court. Attorney Patric A. Parker helped train the lay volunteer guardians and ably
supervised them throughout the project. Kathleen Colburn Faller, M.S.W., Ph.D., of the
University of Michigan School of Social Work, contributed to this project from its
beginning by participating in the training of the demonstration groups and assisting in
the development of the methodology and the data analysis. The authors also wish to
thank Ms. Nancy Mathiowetz, statistical consultant, and Ms. JoAnn Townsend, research
assistant. Finally, che authors are very grateful to David M. Chambers and Robert F.
Kelly for their many helpful suggestions throughout the study and their comments on
drafts of this Article.
* Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Child Advocacy Law Clinic, Univer-
sity of Michigan Law School; Codirector, University of Michigan Interdisciplinary Pro-
ject on Child Abuse and Neglect. B.A., 1969, Michigan State University; J.D., 1974, Uni-
versity of Michigan.
** Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Legal Studies,
Syracuse University College of Law. B.A., 1965, Duke University; M.A., 1966, J.D., 1973,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; LL.M., 1982, University of Michigan.

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