SMNR: Child Protection Issues

• Semester: Fall 2026
• Course ID: 397S
• Credit Hours: 3
• Unique: 31960

Registration Status: Waitlisted

Description

This writing seminar will focus on the substantive and procedural legal issues which relate to the protection of children. The first six classes of the seminar will provide an overview of child protection issues, primarily in the Child Protective Service system. The first class will include a presentation on child abuse and neglect cases; what it is and what it is not. The distinction between criminal child abuse cases and civil child protection (CPS) cases will be discussed.  The next five classes will cover the duty to report child abuse, the removal of children from their homes, termination of parental rights, systemic problems within the foster care system, the rights of children and their parents in child protection proceedings, and the criminal prosecution of child abuse. The readings for the first six classes are posted on canvas or cites for the internet link and Westlaw are provided in the syllabus and on canvas. Students are expected to read and be prepared to discuss the assigned readings in class. Additional readings and discussion may be supplemented which could include the interplay of the protection of children with other areas of the law such as immigration, education, and family law. Students will choose a topic for their own paper, after individual discussions with the professor to that end. Grades will be based on the 1) outline, 2) first draft of paper, 3) feedback in writing regarding mandatory observation of CPS docket, 4) class participation, 5) in-class presentation of paper, 6) critique of another student's paper, and 7) 30 page final paper.