Recommendations of child protection workers to remove children from a home environment they perceive to be unsafe have frequently been challenged, legally and otherwise, and have raised scepticism about the criteria used in advising such a drastic measure. Parenting Assessments in Child Welfare Cases seeks to clarify these procedures, offering a model that facilitates comprehensive assessments and useful and viable recommendations that benefit children.

Perry Pezzot-Pearce and John Pearce guide practitioners through the steps of assessment, from negotiating the initial referral, through data collection and report writing to court testimony. They also alert assessors to practice issues they are likely to encounter as they approach these complex evaluations. Specific sections of the book address areas of concern to people who seek or use these assessments, such as when to make a referral and how to determine if the completed assessment is appropriate. This thorough, up-to-date guide will be essential reading for social workers, psychologists, members of the legal profession, family therapists, and others concerned with child welfare practice.

John Pearce is a staff psychologist at the Alberta Children's Hospital and an adjunct associate professor with the Program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary.

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Terry D. Pezzot-Pearce is a child clinical psychologist in independent practice in Calgary.

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