SKILLS

Although every case is unique, to provide quality representation, a child welfare attorney must demonstrate some fundamental skills. CIPs can use courtroom observations, participant surveys, and other assessment tools to identify whether attorneys in your jurisdiction possess these skills:

Independent investigation

• Attorneys should engage in objective, independent investigation of the facts and circumstances of each case. Such investigations should go beyond the information gathered by the agency and involve direct interviews with and observations of firsthand and collateral sources.
• For more information on independent investigation, click here.

Safety assessment:

• Attorneys play a key role in assessing safety and tailoring their investigation and advocacy to help inform key questions laid out in the American Bar Association (ABA)’s Safety Guide:
• How do you determine when a child is safe:
• in their home?
• can you remove the danger and not the child?
• to return home?
• has the threat of danger been eliminated/ameliorated?
• For more information on safety assessments, click here.