BUILDING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY, COLLABORATIVE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM |
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| Authors: | Hon David B Mitchell |
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| Institution: | Hon. David B. Mitchell (Ret.) has been the executive director of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges since January 2002. He is retired from the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, where he served for 17 years—11 years as the administrative judge of the juvenile court. The author holds a J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law and a B.A. from Fist University. |
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| Abstract: | The process of preparing lawyers and other professionals to work for the benefit of troubled children requires an understanding of concepts that extend far beyond the traditional course structure currently employed in American law schools. It is clear that mental health problems of children and families, compounded by substance abuse, influence behavior, resulting in children entering family and juvenile courts as victims of abuse or neglect and committing criminal acts. It is incumbent on law schools to incorporate training in fields far different from the traditional didactic experience in legal curricula if they are to address the current needs of children and familes who are ensnared in the nation's juvenile justice system. The beginning point of this process is within the legal training apparatus of America. Law schools must expand their curriculum to incorporate other disciplines to produce an advocate capable of serving the interest of children and society. |
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| Keywords: | Multidisciplinary training juvenile law law school training |
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