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Center for the Study of Social Policy

Working to Create Opportunities for America's Children and Families and their Communities
Man
Resources
Recent News on the District of Columbia
 LaShawn A. v. Fenty An Assessment of the District of Columbia’s Child Welfare System (As of January 31, 2009). (140 pgs, 1MB 5/09)

An Analysis of Progress in Meeting Select LaShawn A. v. Fenty Amended Implementation Plan Requirements and Practice and Systemic Challenges from Cases Reviewed in 2008
(29 pgs, 819KB 5/09)

2008 March 21 DC Progress Report in Preparation for Status Hearing (16 pgs,03/08)

LaShawn A. v. Fenty Amended Implementation Plan (29 pgs, 183.3 kb, 02/07)


Recent News on the
New Jersey

Progress of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Monitoring Report  (89pgs, 644kb, 04/08) 

The New Jersey State Central Registry: An Assessment, July 30, 2008 (Report and Executive Summary)
(28pgs, 401kb, 07/08)

Resources
Major Initiatives - Non-Adversarial Litigation


Project Description


The Center for the Study of Social Policy has been involved for the past ten years in several class action lawsuits around the country on behalf of abused and neglected children. In each case, the Center has pioneered a less adversarial approach that seeks to solve longstanding problems in child welfare policies and programs.

Based on this work, the Center has developed a body of knowledge about how to promote and sustain efforts to achieve change in the context of class action litigation. The Center has written a paper outlining the benefits of a non-adversarial approach (20 pgs, 3110 kb, 1/98) to class action litigation and several case studies and reports about this work. The Center continues to work in several states and localities, and to explore prospects for further promoting and institutionalizing this approach.


Archived Reports on Child Welfare Reform


The Center maintains an archive of child welfare reports. You may view reports on general issues in child welfare reform or reports highlighting efforts in specific states. View the archive.


For more information, contact:


Judith Meltzer, Deputy Director, at judy.meltzer@cssp.org.