CHILD PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY AND CHILD PROTECTION MATTERS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

This paper examines how children participate in legal proceedings related to family and child protection matters in the United States. It describes the legal frameworks, institutional structures, and procedures that enable or constrain child participation in the justice system. The work is part of an international comparative study on children's rights to be heard in judicial proceedings.

Key points

• The paper documents legal and institutional mechanisms for child participation in US family and protection proceedings
• It addresses procedural aspects of how children's voices are incorporated into judicial decision-making
• The work is part of an international comparative research initiative by AIMJF/IAYFJM

Limitations

The abstract provides only an overview of the paper's scope and does not contain specific findings, data, or empirical results about the effectiveness or outcomes of child participation mechanisms. It is unclear whether the paper evaluates current practices or proposes recommendations.