Eva J. Klain, J.D., Director, Child and Adolescent Health, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
Too often, legal professionals only come into contact with children and youth when they are involved in some type of court action—whether before a judge independency cases, for delinquency or status offenses, or in domestic relations proceedings (such as custody, visitation, child support, and domestic violence). Judges and lawyers are trained to identify legal, rather than medical, issues. They need to focus, however, on the health and well-being of their clients when safety considerations require that a child be removed from his or her home and placed in foster care.Many children and youth enter foster care with