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Child Welfare Head: Family Court Crunch Escapes Pols' Notice
In an interview with City Limits, Administration for Children's Services Commissioner Ronald Richter says of the scarce resources in Family Court: “Our issues are often not popular. It takes a lot of effort to draw politicians’ attention.”
From Mom to Not in Seven Minutes: Inside Family Court
City Limits spent months observing Family Court and found an overburdened system where delays were endemic, legal help was scarce and the approach to solving family problems was divided. This is the first chapter in our report.
When Delays Dominate, Kids Lose
Chapter two of our Family Court investigation focuses on the courtrooms that handle custody and child support, where many people try to navigate complex legal lingo without a lawyer, and where running out the clock can be a weapon in warfare between parents.
Blurred Lines Between Advocates and Adversaries
All parties in Family Court are supposed to be fighting for the welfare of the child. But chapter 3 of our Family Court investigation finds that in the adversarial format of a courtroom, players sometimes take on conflicting roles.
Juvenile Justice System Excludes Many Youthful Wrongdoers
New York's juvenile justice system is the target of reform efforts. But to some critics, it's the fact that New York State tries so many teens outside of juvenile court that most needs reform. Chapter 4 in our Family Court investigation.
React, Reform, Repeat: A Round of Change Faces Family Court
In chapter 5 of our investigation of New York City Family Court, we look at past reform efforts and survey judges, lawyers, advocates and parents on how they think the system could be improved.
A Separate System With Special Rules
A lower threshold for judgment, different standards of evidence, a shift in the burden of proof and no Fifth Amendment protection—these and other features of Family Court set it apart from the rest of the legal system.
'Kinship' Approach Shows Promise
New York recently began trying to get more children who were removed from their homes placed in guardianship relationships with other relatives. While there are potential pitfalls, the approach can save time and money.
Q&A with Family Court’s Top Judge
A conversation with Edwina Richardson-Mendelson a one-time lawyer and then a courtroom judge in Family Court who now oversees the city's system.
New Child Welfare Head Faces Mountain of Challenges
Ronald Richter just got what the mayor calls a "thankless" job—running the Administration for Children's Services. We asked ACS's sometime allies and frequent critics in the advocacy world what Richter's chief challenges will be.
Concerns Persist Over Child Welfare Cases Involving Mental Health
As many as one in five child welfare cases involves a parent with a mental health diagnosis, creating challenges for parents, children and caseworkers. Advocates say efforts to address those challenges haven't gone far enough.
Human Factor Looms Large In ACS System
Child Welfare Changes Stir Hopes, Fears
Service providers like that the city is moving away from group homes and institutional foster care. But they wonder if the money and policies are in place to make the changes work.
Help For Immigrant Youth
Foster Kids To Get A Home
In One Year, City Says
Court-ing Capacity
To Keep Up With Cases
What Stands Between A
Child And A Lasting Family
The City's Latest
Hirings and Retirings
City's Proud of Millions
More For Child Support
Close-To-Home Treatment
For Youths Gains Notice
For children stuck in New York State's child welfare system, New York has one of the worst outcomes for re-uniting families, placing children in safer adoptive homes, and trying 16- and 17-year-old offenders in criminal court.
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EVENTS
A Place at the Table
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
6:00pm -
Word for Word: Dan Savage
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Justice For All: Appleseed at 20
Thursday, June 20, 2013
6:00p - 9:00p
CONVERSATIONS/OPINONS
Juvenile Justice Reform Leaves Teens Behind
New York stands virtually alone among states in allowing teenagers to be tried as adults and sentenced to adult prisons. Amid a wave of juvenile justice improvements, these children seem to have been forgotten.
Who Cares About New York’s Teen Fathers?
The city's teenaged dads can make a huge difference in the lives of their kids. Yet they are forced to navigate Family Court with little guidance, and must deal with agencies and jurists who know next to nothing about them.
MULTIMEDIA
Quarterly Housing Update, New York City
The Ouarterly Housing Update, published by NYU’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, provides up-to-date information on trends in the New York City housing market.
For Their Own Good
Hundreds of teens are in jail for crimes for which adult offenders would walk. Can the Probation Dept. reform its ways?
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CITY LIMITS EVENTS
Defining Brooklyn Launch
City Limits celebrates the launch of its March 2011 issue: Defining Brooklyn.The 35th Anniversary Celebration
City Limits celebrates its 35th Anniversary at BMCC in Tribeca.Brooklyn Bureau Launch
The Brooklyn Bureau launch as part of Social Media Week 2012.Tackling Poverty
The Tackling Poverty Series at Galapagos Art Space in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn.Tackling Poverty (Manhattan)
City Limits & the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness
