Standard of Care in Screening Adoptive, Foster and Kinship Parents

The lack of a clear legal “standard of care” for the evaluation and screening of prospective adoptive, foster, and kinship applicants directly undermines the child placement process, the physical and emotional development of children placed in adoptive and foster homes, and the adjudication of legal issues arising when children are harmed.

Often, it is only when a lawsuit is filed that society is forced to take a hard look at its legal expectations, and it is then compelled to acknowledge that there may be a very real distinction between child welfare’s “best practice” standard and the legal standard of care.

So begins an article by Professor Dan Pollack writing in the Capital University Law Review.

Anyone wishing a copy of this thought-provoking and engaging law review article can contact Professor Pollack directly at dpollack@yu.edu.