Seeking Dignity, Voice and Story for Children in Our Child Protective Systems

Abstract

Three principles: (1) revolve one’s representation around both the child-in-context and the theory of the case; (2) respect one’s child client whether present or absent; and (3) cultivate the right relationships with the child’s significant others – embody values central to representing children: dignity, voice, and story. At the same time, these principles both safeguard and imperil dignity, voice, and story, centrepieces of our service mission. Within each principle, dignity, voice and story collide with and contradict each other. These tensions, our determination to keep the child’s, not other adult concerns, paramount, and nonjudgment critically inform how we weigh children’s views in justice proceedings.