Publication year: 2011
Source: Children and Youth Services Review, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 28 April 2011
Steve M., Wood , Jesse, Russell
Individuals in the dependency system believe that it is important to have parties present at early decision-making hearings without much empirical support. This paper examines how involvement of mothers, fathers, and their respective legal representatives at early decision-making hearings (i.e., preliminary protective, adjudication, disposition, and first review) influences reunification in juvenile dependency cases. Cox proportional-hazard models indicate the likelihood over time of returning children to the parents they were removed from was significantly higher when the mother and the mother’s attorney was present at early decision-making hearings. Results also indicate that the presence of the father significantly increased the likelihood…
Research highlights: ► Parental involvement is indicative of reunification in juvenile dependency cases ► We also examine legal representation for parents in relation to reunification ► Mother involvement relates to increased reunification rates ► Fathers’ presence is not robustly related to reunification ► Legal representation for mothers more influential than for fathers