A Critical Look at the Child Welfare System
Defensive Social Work

1. Joe Sexton, "As Child Abuse Cases Rise, NYC Splits More Families," New York Times, (May 12, 1996)

2. Richard Wexler, Wounded Innocents: The Real Victims of the War Against Child Abuse, (Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books, 1995) p. 234.

3. Dateline NBC, Little Girl Lost, transcript, August 28, 1996.

4. Douglas J. Besharov, The Vulnerable Social Worker: Liability for Serving Children and Families, (Silver Spring, MD: National Association of Social Workers, 1985) p. 136; Citing Joanne Selinske, "Protecting CPS Clients and Workers," Public Welfare, 41 (Summer 1983) p. 31.

5. Douglas J. Besharov, p. 137.

6. R. Bruce Dold, "Kids Suffer Under DCFS Reform Efforts," Chicago Tribune, (September 22, 1995)

7. Estimates of Diane Redleaf and Benjamin Wolf from Richard Wexler, p. 211.

8. Sheila Kamerman and Alfred Kahn, "Social Services for Children, Youth and Families in the United States," Children and Youth Services Review, Special Issue, 12:1-184 (1990).

9. Peter Schuck, Suing Government: Citizen Remedies for Official Wrongs, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983) p. 75.

10. Leroy Schultz, "Preface," Malpractice Liability in West Virginia's Child Protective Services: A Social Policy Analysis, (Morgantown: West Virginia University School of Social Work, 1981) p.

11. John McAloonan, "Cap'n Hook," Orlando Sentinel, (May 14, 1988)

12. Rudi Keller, Unnamed Daily Tribune Story, Columbia Daily Tribune, (May 6, 1994)

13. Maryann Struman, "Court Frees DSS Workers From Threat of Lawsuits," Detroit News, (January 18, 1996)

14. See generally Programs and Services Designed to Prevent Unnecessary Foster Care Placement, Hearings before the Subcommittee of Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, May 22, 1989, Austin, Texas; June 5, 1989, Lindenhurst, New York.

15. Lois M. Collins, "Rise in Foster Care Hasn't Caught Up To Caseload," Deseret News, (May 14, 1996)

16. Associated Press, "Aftermath of Molestation Leaves Family Shaken, Angry," as reported in San Diego Daily Transcript, (October 8, 1996)

17. Richard Wexler, p. 195.

18. Renny Golden, Disposable Children: America's Child Welfare System, (Belmont, Ca.: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1997) p. 154.

19. Renny Golden, p. 188.

20. Renny Golden, p. 160.

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