In this article from the Child Law Practice Today July/August 2017 Issue on Kinship Care, Los Angeles Judge Michael Nash, Ret. shares court and agency strategies to engage and support relatives for children and families involved in the child welfare system in the US.
Blood is thicker than water—the old adage is threaded through the career of retired Los Angeles Dependency Court Judge Michael Nash. From his early days on the bench 30 years ago, Judge Nash noticed a theme. In case after case in which parents’ rights were terminated, the child welfare agency had not fully searched for missing parents. He began pressing the agency to perform comprehensive searches. This would turn up parents—usually fathers—who often became positive forces in their children’s lives.
The experience began shaping his view of the importance of family for children in the child welfare system. “In my experience, more often than not, children have a better sense of belonging, and more stability with relatives.” This theme would carry through during his time on the bench, mirroring a cultural change in child welfare to prioritize maintaining families by engaging and supporting relatives.