The new edition of this important handbook – formerly authored by Elaine Vayda and Mary Satterfield – continues in the tradition of the original in demystifying the law for the social worker. As with the previous edition, the fourth edition uses the family life cycle as an organizing principle which connects legal procedures to the life of the family as it moves through marriage, parenthood, normal events and specific crises, along the continuum from birth to old age. It reviews basic legal concepts, describes the court structure and examines trial procedures and rules of evidence as they affect social workers and their clients. New chapters have been added addressing Consent, Capacity and Substitute Decision-Makers; Mental Health and the Law; Financial Safety Nets; and Immigration. About the Authors: Rachel Birnbaum, PhD, RSW, LL.M., is an Associate Professor of Social Work at King’s University College, University of Western Ontario. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from University of Toronto. She teaches in the area of clinical practice with children, individuals and families. Other teaching interests include ethics and the law, family mediation and collaboration between law and social work. Her research focus is on evaluation and outcome interventions in child and family issues related to separation and/or divorce. She is also a co-author of Law for Social Workers, 4th Edition and Child Custody Assessments: A Resource Guide for Mental Health and Legal Professionals, both published by Carswell. Janet Mosher, B.Mus.A., LL.B., LL.M., is a Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. She was formerly a Professor of both Law and Social Work at the University of Toronto, where she was also Director of the Combined LLB/MSW program. She served as Academic Director of the intensive program in Poverty Law at the Parkdale Community Legal Services clinic for three years. She is currently a Virtual Scholar in Residence at Osgoode Hall, working with the Law Commission of Canada on a project entitled “Access to Justice: A New Policy Framework”. Past publications include articles on poverty law and access to justice for disadvantaged groups. |