what is a dependency attorney social worker?

Do I need a juvenile dependency attorney?

As a parent or relative who has the child’s interest at heart, You MUST seek help from a Juvenile Dependency Attorney who has, at least, 10-years’ experience working fulltime in these special courts learning how they work. READ RADIO SHOW TRANSCRIPTS HERE

Why choose Los Angeles dependency lawyers?

Every family has a story. The lawyers at Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers Inc. are committed to respecting the story of every family they serve. Their stories, your stories, our stories, are the seeds of a better life for vulnerable families in Los Angeles County.

Can a child dependency attorney stop DCFS from taking my kids?

Experienced Child Dependency attorneys can make ALL the difference in you stopping DCFS CPS from taking your kids (if you are under investigation), or can help get your children back if taken already. To depend upon an overworked, court-appointed lawyer is tantamount to admitting defeat.

What is the role of a dependency court in California?

The court's authority for dependency cases is found within the California Welfare and Institutions Code. The court's role is to ensure that the rights of children and their familes are protected in accordance with the law designed to protect abused and neglected children. The court appoints an attorney to represent each parent/guardian and child.

What is dependency in social work?

Dependency has been defined as "the. state of being at the disposal of another, sustained by another, relying upon an- other's support or favor." To be depend- ent is to be unable to exist or sustain.

What does fostering dependency mean?

Fostering dependency in children causes a child to grow up without developing healthy coping mechanisms of their own. A child such as this will be prone to panic attacks as they age, as well as a host of other psychological maladies.

What does DAC stand for in social work?

Dependency Advocacy Center (DAC) has been innovative in utilizing in-house and contract social workers in concert with traditional legal services to provide the highest level of representation for its clients.

What is dependency in criminal justice?

California dependency law deals with minors who have been abused, neglected and/or abandoned.

Do judges always agree with social services?

The judge is likely unless he or she considers that the evidence before the court suggests otherwise to take full account of the recommendations made by children's services and the guardian.

Can social services take my child away without evidence?

Can social services take my child away? Social services will usually only take a child away from their parents if they believe that the child is at risk of harm or neglect in their current circumstances. They are obliged to investigate any complaints or concerns reported to them.

Why is a DAC needed?

Built into the likes of computers, tablets and smartphones, the DAC is the fundamental key to unlocking the convenience of digital music. It converts the countless reams of digital information into an analogue signal that's intelligible to the likes of speakers and headphones – and the human ear.

What does pa stand for in social services?

The personal assistant (PA) workforce in social care and health: research and.

Is dependency a form of neglect?

A child is considered dependent or neglected if: The parent allows another individual to abuse or mistreat the child. The parent fails to provide the necessary medical or educational care. The child is living in an unsafe environment.

What dependency means?

Definition of dependency 1 : dependence sense 1. 2 : something that is dependent on something else especially : a territorial unit under the jurisdiction of a nation but not formally annexed by it. 3 : a building (such as a stable) that is an adjunct to a main dwelling.

What is legal dependency definition?

A legal dependent is an individual who is literally dependent, as depicted by the law. In these instances, the individual described person receives principal support from another individual and sometimes may utilize the necessary laws to enforce that support from the other individual.

Why is it important to have a Long Beach dependency attorney?

It is important that your Long Beach Dependency attorney is able to communicate effectively with county counsel because they cannot communicate directly to your social worker. The county counsel must get the social workers approval before entering into any plea agreement.

What is dependency law in California?

In a Dependency case, the local Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) or Child Protective Services (CPS) alleges that a parent’s conduct places a child at risk of abuse or neglect.

What is the duty of a judge?

It is the Judge’s duty to apply the law and make decisions for your children based on their best interest. The Judge must apply the Welfare and Institutions Code and California Supreme Court and Appeals Court case law to your case.

What is welfare and institutions code?

Welfare and Institutions Code is the governing body of law when children are involved in the foster care system or with county social workers. In Dependency Court, Judges not juries, make a determination if children are abused or neglected as described by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 300.

What is the initial court report being generated by the social worker called?

The initial court report being generated by the social worker is called the Detention Report . The social worker’s reports are the hardest things for parents to read because they contain fragments of statements and misrepresentation drafted by the social worker that is intent on proving their allegations true.

What is the term for a child dependent on the government?

It is also referred to as the foster care system, social worker court, or youth in need of care. The Right to Parent without the Government vs. The Government’s Duty to Protect Children.

Can a social worker be a court appointed attorney?

Be aware social workers are trained to catch people in lies. If a social worker comes to your home for a referral, you do not have a right to a court appointed attorney. Immediately contacting a Long Beach Dependency attorney to help guide you through the investigation may save you a lot of heartache.

What is a dependency attorney?

A highly specialized area of law, dependency and child’s court matters are most effectively handled by an attorney that is not only extremely knowledgeable in these matters, but also sensitive to the specific needs of individuals involved in these situations. At the Law Offices of Vincent W. Davis & Associates our attorneys have handled hundreds of dependency cases in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino county that have progressed to trial and also in appellate court.

How to contact a California dependency attorney?

Juvenile Dependency Process. For a consultation with a California dependency attorney at the Offices of Vincent W. Davis & Associates, call us at 626-446-6442 or contact us online. Our offices are open 9 am – 7 pm, Monday through Friday, and on weekends by appointment.

How serious is juvenile dependency?

Keep in mind that juvenile dependency cases are very serious. They can change your life and your child’s life. Click on the links below for more information about how dependency court works. And talk to a lawyer for more help understanding your rights and the courts. Click for help finding a lawyer . If you are the father of the child, ...

How often do you have to have a dependency hearing?

During the time your child is in the system (whether your child is living with you or with someone else), the court will have a hearing every six months. These court hearings are dependency status review hearings, which in different courts can also be called status review hearings, periodic review hearings, or DSR hearings.

What is voluntary services?

These are free services that the social worker will help you connect to that are designed to help you learn how to parent your child more safely. Leave your child in your care and file a petition with the court that asks to the court to open a case to protect your child.

What happens if you can't afford a lawyer?

First, if you cannot afford a lawyer, the judge will appoint one for you. The judge will also appoint a lawyer for the other parent of your child if he or she shows up for the first court hearing. Most counties will also appoint an attorney for your child.

What does the judge ask about a child's parents?

This means that the court will ask if there is a father or another person who qualifies as a parent to the child. The questions about the other parent are needed to find out who your child’s legal parents are.

Who is required to investigate child abuse?

When a child abuse and neglect report is made, the social worker or police officer is required to investigate.

Can a social worker talk to a child at school?

The social worker can talk to your child at school without you being present. The social worker does not need a court order to talk to your child at school, as long as there is not a police officer present when the social worker talks to your child.

What is a dependent child?

The legal definition of a dependent child is a child that: has been abandoned, abused, or neglected by their parent, guardian, or custodian. has no parent, guardian, or custodian able to take good care of them, so there is a danger of serious damage to the child’s physical or psychological development.

Can a CPS caseworker interview a child?

During its investigation, the CPS caseworker can interview your children and anyone else with useful information. The interview can be at any suitable place, like school, home, or daycare. They do not need to ask or to notify you. CPS can talk to the children alone or with a third person.

What is the court's authority for dependency cases?

The court's authority for dependency cases is found within the California Welfare and Institutions Code. The court's role is to ensure that the rights of children and their familes are protected in accordance with the law designed to protect abused and neglected children. The court appoints an attorney to represent each parent/guardian and child. During hearings, the court may consider information about the alleged abuse or neglect, the wellbeing of the children, police and social worker reports, medical and psychiatric reports, family history, placement options, and oral arguments from attorneys. Testimony may be heard from people such as social worker (s), police officers, parents, family members, doctors, teachers, witnesses, and in some cases, the child (ren).

What is the child's right to participate in a dependency case?

The child has a right to participate in his or her dependency case. If a child 10 years of age or older is not present, the court is to inquire whether that child received notice and the opportunity to attend and, if not, the court may continue the matter for the child to appear.

What is dependency timeline?

Dependency Timeline. The timelines that are a part of our dependency statutes recognize the importance of a child’s sense of time, the central role of the young child’s caregiver relationship that drives the child’s growth and development, and determines the ultimate structure of the child's brain.

Who is responsible for foster care in California?

County child welfare agencies are responsible for the day-to-day casework for foster children in California. County agencies must file reports and recommendations to the juvenile court for each regularly scheduled hearing.

Who is involved in juvenile court?

The main participants in the Juvenile Court process are the Juvenile Court, county child welfare agencies, parents, children, foster family agencies, caregivers, and attorneys.

What is a foster family agency?

Foster family agencies (FFAs) may be responsible for the day-to-day casework with foster children in California if the child is placed in foster care through an FFA. FFAs have a duty to file periodic reports with the juvenile court, including the JV-290 Caregiver Information Form. Welfare and Institution Code § 366.21 (d) requires that these reports be filed prior to any hearing involving a child in the custody of a community care facility or foster family agency that may result in the return of the child to the custody of his or her parent or legal guardian, adoption, or the creation of a legal guardianship.