With the Child in Mind – Brain Development and Best Interests Decisions

Everyday across Canada, judges from both the federal and provincial courts make ‘best interest’ decisions affecting the lives of thousands of children and their families. Infants and children whose cases come before the justice sytem are more likely to have experienced abuse, neglect, exposure to family violence, parenting impaired by addiction or mental illness, and substandard or unstable home environments. Lawyers, judges and child-serving professionals need to be educated in the science of early brain development so that they can maked informed, timely decisions that will have lasting positive effects on the health and development of children. This project aims to collaborate with family court judges and lawyers to identify their information and learning needs in the area of early brain developement. These needs will be adressed by creating and piloting learning resources that will allow them to meaningfully integrate the science of early child development into their daily practice.

Faculty Supervisor:

Laura Ghali

Student:

Partner:

Sinneave Family Foundation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Calgary

Program: