{"product_id":"best-interests-of-the-children-m-a-robert-and-miriam-fertig-9781491739631","title":"Best Interests of the Children: America's Dependency System as Seen Through the Eyes of Guardians","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat should professionals?judges, lawyers, teachers, social workers, and Guardian ad Litem or CASA volunteers ?consider in pursuing the Best Interest of Children who have been abandoned, neglected or abused? How can Department of Children and Families improve their systems?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBest Interests of the Children\u003c\/i\u003e explains that the ethical principles of Beneficence and Non-Maleficence exist in the medical world to maximize benefit and to avoid harm to patients. The duty is to assist persons in need, and its converse, the duty to refrain from causing harm. These same principles should apply to the ?Best Interest? standard used in the children and families dependency welfare system, to protect defenseless children from parental abandonment, neglect and abuse.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen parents separate, which of them should have primary responsibility for the child's care? Who is the actual ?psychological? parent? With compassion and actual case experiences, the authors, Miriam and Robert Fertig, help readers understand many of the key issues inherent in childcare decisions. They present a dozen Florida cases, as seen through the ?Eyes of Guardians.? They conclude that timely and effective services and continuity of care for the family is essential for the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of children.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCase summaries from other states indicate that America's Department of Children and Families (DCF) has serious ?systemic problems.? The authors propose realistic solutions to improve this nationwide system. \u003ci\u003eBest Interests of the Children\u003c\/i\u003e will also enlighten the public and their legislators.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003e?Best Interests? is an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, information-packed guide to the world of families in crisis and the crucial role of Guardian ad Litem. Written in a conversational style, it can be blunt and feisty at times, but is always enlightening. I found myself shocked on one page, and then extremely edified and encouraged on the page that followed. Any book that is so provocative and stimulating will occasionally ignite a mental mini-debate between reader and author, but this is part of the ?fun and education, ? that comes from any book this stimulating, that penetrates mind and heart at the same time. Highly recommended.\u003c\/i\u003e ? Reader Review by: Thomas Woodward (Ph.D. USF), Professor of Trinity College, Founder and Director of the C. S. Lewis Society, in Florida\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e M. a. Robert and Miriam Fertig\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1491739630\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781491739631\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e iUniverse\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/22\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 250\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.82lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.57d","brand":"M. a. Robert and Miriam Fertig","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48445182411007,"sku":"9781491739631","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_fce729c8-4e0d-4002-bc0e-4d19268859de.jpg?v=1777217061","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/best-interests-of-the-children-m-a-robert-and-miriam-fertig-9781491739631","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}