Representing Parents in Abuse and Neglect Proceedin Gs
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AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS REPRESENTING PARENTS IN ABUSE An Advocacy and Training Guide for Wyoming Practitioners First Edition - 2016 This publication is part of Children’s Justice Project Publications Shining a Light on Wyoming Juvenile Court Resources to capture ideas, guidelines, and best practices to help children and families in Wyoming’s Juvenile Courts. Representing Parents in Abuse and Neglect Proceedings First Edition (May 2016) Thank you to all who assisted with writing, reviewing, and guiding the creation of this handbook. A special acknowledgment to Lisa K. Finkey, without her vision, enthusiasm and hard work this handbook would not have become a reality. Copyright © 2016 Wyoming Supreme Court Children’s Justice Project. All rights reserved. The Children’s Justice Project provided funds for this publication in accordance with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, § 13712 of Subchapter C Part 1, Court Improvement Program Grants, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The points of view expressed in this handbook are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Wyoming Supreme Court and/or the Children’s Justice Project. This publication should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent legal research to original sources of authority, the advice of a lawyer, or both. For more information about the Wyoming Children’s Justice Project (CJP), please contact the CJP Coordinator at 307-777-7629 or [email protected]. Additional copies may be downloaded from the CJP webpage at http://www.courts.state.wy.us/Initiatives/CJP. Preface This handbook is meant to assist attorneys practicing child welfare law and, consequently, improve outcomes for parents and their children by ensuring timely hearings, increasing reunifications, and decreasing the number of parental rights termination findings. Quality representation of parents during child welfare cases can increase cost savings for Wyoming and its citizens and decrease the amount of time children spend in foster care. The handbook provides a comprehensive starting point for attorneys to improve their skills when representing parents in abuse and neglect proceedings. Attorneys are provided with practical tips and advice and alerted to applicable law for specific proceedings. The accompanying appendix provides attorneys with sample forms for use when drafting pertinent motions in child welfare cases. The handbook can help attorneys improve their advocacy skills and, when necessary, challenge the system to improve outcomes for families. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE .......................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE .......................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER ONE: REPRESENTING PARENTS IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ................................................................................................................................ 4 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 4 THE HISTORY OF CHILD WELFARE LAW .............................................................................. 4 THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL .......................................................................................................... 5 THE NEED FOR COMPETENT PRACTITIONERS .................................................................... 7 CHAPTER TWO: THE ROLE OF COUNSEL ............................................................ 9 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 9 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................................. 9 PARTNER ..................................................................................................................................... 9 ADVOCATE ................................................................................................................................ 10 COUNSELOR............................................................................................................................... 12 COURT APPOINTMENT ............................................................................................................ 13 DEFINING THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION .................................................................... 14 ETHICAL DUTIES ....................................................................................................................... 14 COMPETENCE ............................................................................................................................ 14 COMMUNICATION ...................................................................................................................... 16 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ........................................................................................................... 17 CONFIDENTIALITY ..................................................................................................................... 19 DUE DILIGENCE ......................................................................................................................... 22 CANDOR TO THE TRIBUNAL ...................................................................................................... 23 BILLING ....................................................................................................................................... 24 WORKING WITH OTHER PARTIES ......................................................................................... 26 UNREPRESENTED AND REPRESENTED PARTIES ........................................................................ 27 WORKING WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS .................................................................................. 28 TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP ......................................... 31 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER THREE: CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ............................................................................................................. 34 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 34 THE BASICS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT............................................................................... 35 ATTACHMENT ........................................................................................................................... 36 TYPES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT .......................................................................................... 38 SIGNS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT .......................................................................................... 39 EFFECTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ..................................................................................... 40 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 41 CHAPTER FOUR: THE WYOMING JUVENILE COURT PROCESS ................. 42 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 42 TERMINOLOGY .......................................................................................................................... 43 PARTIES ....................................................................................................................................... 45 GUARDIAN AD LITEM ................................................................................................................ 45 CASA ........................................................................................................................................ 46 THE WYOMING CHILD NEGLECT COURT PROCESS ......................................................... 48 COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS ......................................................................................... 48 TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE CUSTODY ................................................................................. 49 FILING OF A PETITION ............................................................................................................. 51 ADJUDICATION ......................................................................................................................... 52 POST-ADJUDICATION .............................................................................................................. 54 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 58 CHAPTER FIVE: ESTABLISHING THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP ............................................................................................................ 60 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 60 INITIAL MEETING 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