Neuroscience and the Child Welfare System
21 Journal of Law & Policy 37 (2012)
22 Pages Posted: 15 May 2013
Date Written: May 14, 2013
Abstract
A growing body of research by neuroscientists demonstrates that a child’s early life experiences and environment literally shape the child’s brain architecture, with lifelong consequences that are very difficult to reverse. Children’s relationships with their primary caregivers are at the core of this brain development, but when this relationship is severely deficient, the developing child’s brain is deeply affected. This research has not gained sufficient recognition in policy debates about the child welfare system because much of the work is complex and hard for non-neuroscientists to decipher with nuance. This essay brings a family law scholar’s perspective to understanding the possibilities and limitations of drawing on this still-emerging science in the development of child welfare policy.
Keywords: family law, children, neuroscience
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?
Related eJournals
-
Fordham Law School Legal Studies Research Paper Series
Fordham Law School Legal Studies Research Paper Series
Subscribe to this free journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS6,186PAPERS967This Journal is curated by:Todd Melnick at Fordham University School of Law -
Family & Children's Law eJournal
Family & Children's Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS895PAPERS11,750This Journal is curated by:Jane M. Spinak at Columbia Law School, June Carbone at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - School of Law -
Women, Gender & the Law eJournal
Women, Gender & the Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS884PAPERS11,389This Journal is curated by:Kim Brooks at Dalhousie University - Schulich School of Law -
Public Health Law & Policy eJournal
Public Health Law & Policy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS830PAPERS8,826This Journal is curated by:Scott Burris at Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law -
Cognitive Neuroscience (CSN) eJournal
Cognitive Neuroscience (CSN) eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS761PAPERS1,385This Journal is curated by:Mark B. Turner at Case Western Reserve University - Department of Cognitive Science -
Law & Society: Family Law, Relations & Dispute Resolution eJournal
Law & Society: Family Law, Relations & Dispute Resolution eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS754PAPERS7,336This Journal is curated by:Amy G. Applegate at Indiana University Maurer School of Law -
Health Care Law & Policy eJournal
Health Care Law & Policy eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS739PAPERS8,100This Journal is curated by:Erin C. Fuse Brown at Georgia State University College of Law , Jaime S. King at Faculty of Law, The University of Auckland -
Law & Society: Private Law - Family Law eJournal
Law & Society: Private Law - Family Law eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS723PAPERS3,846This Journal is curated by:Steve Sanders at Indiana University Maurer School of Law -
Law & Psychology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS716PAPERS5,558This Journal is curated by:Valerie P. Hans at Cornell University - School of Law, Jeffrey J. Rachlinski at Cornell Law School -
Law & Neuroscience eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS402PAPERS607This Journal is curated by:Amanda C. Pustilnik at University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Francis X. Shen at Harvard University - Center for Bioethics -
Law & Society: Public Law - Poverty eJournal
Law & Society: Public Law - Poverty eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS366PAPERS2,017This Journal is curated by:Pamela Foohey at Yeshiva University - Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law -
Psychological Anthropology eJournal
Psychological Anthropology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS335PAPERS4,198 -
Biology & Anthropology eJournal
Biology & Anthropology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS323PAPERS2,732 -
Developmental Psychology eJournal
Developmental Psychology eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS64PAPERS5,222 -
Neurolaw eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS30PAPERS294 -
Neuroanthropology & Cultural Neuroscience eJournal
Neuroanthropology & Cultural Neuroscience eJournal
Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS22PAPERS622 -
Poverty Research eJournal
Subscribe to this free journal for more curated articles on this topic
FOLLOWERS3PAPERS10,526