Children and the Law

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the legal issues related to abuse and neglect of children and termination of parental rights.

The course examines the philosophical underpinnings of the foster care system and will feature speakers ranging from experts in the field to former foster youth.

This course focuses on families who find themselves subject to government intervention due to allegations of abuse and neglect. The interplay between child protection, family integrity, and individual rights as well as the intersectionality between the child welfare system and various other legal and social constructs including juvenile justice, the Indian Child Welfare Act, immigration, and disproportionality will be explored.

After the course, students will have both a practical and a philosophical understanding of the juvenile court system.