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Abstract
Understanding the impact of fathers in child maltreatment cases has been a neglected area of research. This study evaluated differences in child welfare hearings and children's perceptions of their situation where fathers were and were not present. Father attendance at hearings appeared to positively impact information-gathering. When fathers attended hearings, they lasted longer and covered case topics more thoroughly. Children reported more negative affect immediately after hearings where fathers were present; however, these differences were attenuated at subsequent interviews. Overall, the findings suggest that father involvement positively impacts case management, though more research must be conducted to support this finding.
Acknowledgments
We thank Lancaster County judges and court administrators, April Faith-Slaker, Joe Hamm, David Lopez, Sammi Mosier, and Jenny Wehrman for their assistance with data collection.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Twila Wingrove
Twila Wingrove, JD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Appalachian State University. She studies children's involvement in the legal system.
Sarah J. Beal
Sarah J. Beal, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati. She studies the impact of foster care on children's health and development.
Victoria Weisz
Victoria Weisz, MLS, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Center on Children, Families, and the Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She studies the legal system's work with children.