What Is “Best Interest”?
Juvenile court judges use the —”best interest of the child” standard when making their decisions in child abuse and neglect cases. Child welfare and juvenile court practitioners and scholars have debated the meaning of “best interest of the child” for years. Books have been written on the subject; however, there is still no concise legal definition for this standard. However, physical safety, emotional well-being, permanent placement in a stable and nurturing home environment that fosters the child’s healthy growth and development are all factors to be considered by the Guardian ad Litem.
A. Juvenile court judges use the — best interest of the child” standard when making their decisions in child abuse and neglect cases. Child welfare and juvenile court practitioners and scholars have debated the meaning of “best interest of the child” for years. Books have been written on the subject; however, there is still no concise legal definition for this standard. However, physical safety, emotional well-being, permanent placement in a stable and nurturing home environment that fosters the child’s healthy growth and development are all factors to be considered by the Guardian ad Litem.
