Intervention at an early stage of a child's development is extremely complicated. The problems of balancing the conflicting rights of the child, the parents, and the State form the basis of this volume. It describes the interaction between mental health and legal interests in the USA, and provides a comprehensive survey of current empirical research, professional practice, and legal policy.

"Mental health professionals increasingly look towards problem prevention at the earliest stage of personal development, yet intervention at that stage is extremely complicated. The difficulties of balancing the conflicting rights of the child (to self-determination), the parents (to raise children in privacy and in their own manner), and of the State (to step in when parents or children fail to meet some socially desirable standard) form the basis of this volume. Its description of the interaction between mental health and legal interests, and how they impinge upon children--areas of rapidly-growing concern to mental health workers--represents the state-of-the-art. Four key topics are tackled: the relationship between children and their families; the health care system; the juvenile justice system; and the educational system. The result is a comprehensive survey of current empirical research, professional practice, and legal policy. In addition, the authors have given provocative suggestions on which direction the field will take--and on which direction they think it should take."--Provided by the publisher

The legal aspects of child mental health have changed in recent years, yet many who deal professionally with disturbed children are ill informed about the rights and responsibilities of minors. Child Mental Health and the Law addresses the need for a comprehensive, up-to-date text that describes the evolution of child mental health law and the relevance of the law to the child mental health clinician.

Children and young people with complex mental health needs are increasingly being cared for within specialist mental health care settings, either in the community or in in-patient facilities. With rapid social developments, it can be difficult for carers and practitioners to keep track of the law in this area. This book provides a guide to the law relating to mental health care for children and young people, their rights and entitlement to service, and discusses important issues in clinical and social care practice such as parental responsibility, Gillick competency and capacity, emergency intervention and detention, assessment of mental illness and confidentiality in practice. A chapter written by Mary Mitchell considers the diagnosis and management of complex mental illness in young people, and a concluding chapter discusses changes in the law. Jargon-free and accessibly written, this is an invaluable guide for professionals working in child and adolescent health and social care, social workers, youth workers, social welfare policy makers, medical professionals, teachers, educational professionals and students, as well as advocates for children and young people.

"Highly recommended for expert and beginner alike. It is well written, well organized, easy to read, and packed with useful information." -- Child Abuse & Neglect "This book represents a milestone in expanding the resource base for professionals working in the child abuse field." -- Journal of Child and Family Studies

Parental Alienation: The Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals is the essential “how to” manual in this important and ever increasing area of behavioral science and law. Busy mental health professionals need a reference guide to aid them in developing data sources to support their positions in reports and testimony. They also need to know where to go to find the latest material on a topic. Having this material within arm’s reach will avoid lengthy and time-consuming online research. For legal professionals who must ground their arguments in well thought out motions and repeated citations to case precedent, ready access to state or province specific legal citations spanning thirty-five years of parental alienation cases is provided here for the first time in one place. • Over 1000 Bibliographic Entries• 500 Cases Examined• 25 Sample Motions in MS Word Format* *Note: The eBook version contains the additional supplemental materials in PDF format only. It does not contain the MS Word formatted sample motions.