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The Role of Class Action Litigation in Achieving Child Welfare Reform: A Study in Public Conflict Resolution
Author(s) -
Borgersen Ellen,
Shapiro Stephen
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
negotiation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.238
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1571-9979
pISSN - 0748-4526
DOI - 10.1111/j.1571-9979.1997.tb00133.x
Subject(s) - negotiation , battle , politics , welfare , political science , public administration , class action , welfare reform , law , process (computing) , class (philosophy) , state (computer science) , economic justice , sociology , archaeology , algorithm , artificial intelligence , computer science , history , operating system
This article traces the history of a 16‐year court battle over the child welfare system in Kansas City, Missouri, which eventually headed toward resolution as the result of an innovative public policy negotiation process. The process combined the substantive expertise of nationally and locally respected child welfare professionals with political muscle at the state, local, and community levels to develop and implement a plan for reform. If the results of this process become institutionalized in the Kansas City child welfare system, it will represent a significant transformation in the governing culture and practices of the system and the community it serves.