Social workers are often overworked and underpaid. Nonetheless, they must make time to practice to be prepared for court.

Few areas of family law are as bristling with risk and the potential for appeal as a petition to terminate parental rights. When the child involved has special needs, the child may be particularly imperiled if proper ...

There is a well-known psychological phenomenon known as hindsight bias, “the recognized tendency for individuals to overestimate or exaggerate…

A faulty medical determination of child abuse or neglect can destroy the life of a child and its family. “Measure twice, cut once,” is a great rule for carpenters; it’s also an important lesson for Child Protective Services.

Social workers must have a basic knowledge of how legal proceedings work, especially if they are called to be an outcry witness.

Many court hearings are now virtual. This means that some or all of the litigants and witnesses participate by video. Are virtual hearings compromising the Fourth Amendment rights of domestic violence victims/survivors ...

The Houston Court of Appeals (First District) recently heard Fernandez v. State. Its ruling provides clear definitions of what role an outcry witness can play in proving allegations of continuous sexual abuse of a young ...

Lawyers are charged with advocating for their clients. When a court takes a holistic team approach, zealous advocacy must bow to serving the best interests of families, and especially, the best interests of children. The ...

Children may be the recipients of a quiet tsunami of well-intended, but nonetheless inappropriate expectations cast upon them. The parent who uses a child as a shield is manifesting high levels of dependency and emotional ...