Additional Reading & Resources

In addition to the citations in this toolkit, a vast literature exists concerning the health care system, the child welfare system, and the law enforcement system. Links to articles and other resources pertinent to this call to action are included below. You can suggest additional resources for us to include by contacting us here.

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BOOKS & MEDIA 

• Take Care of Maya (2023)

• The Syndrome (2021)

• Fong, K., Investigating Families: Motherhood in the Shadow of Child Protective Services (Princeton Press, 2023)

• Redleaf, D., They Took the Kids Last Night: How the Child Protection System Puts Families at Risk (ABC-Clio, 2018)

• Roberts, D., Torn Apart: How the Child Protection System Destroys Black Families (2022)

• Shaken (2023)

• Accused: Guilty or Innocent

• Curated List of Books & Other Media from the Family Justice Resource Center

ARTICLES 

Articles Related to the Kowalski Case

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• Fox, M., Founding Father of 'Child Abuse Pediatrics' Calls JHAC Defendants 'Conspirators' in Unlawful Acts

• Raz, M., Netflix’s Hit Take Care of Maya Scratches the Surface of a Huge Problem
  Article notes widespread concerns raised by the Netflix documentary and endorses the principle that doctors caring for children like Maya need to be transparent about their role and relationship with child protection authorities. It highlights the potential for harm in child protection investigations and importance of respecting children’s rights to family support and family rights to seek treatment, even if unconventional.

• Chen, D., Bad medicine: Critics say powerful pediatrician too quick to diagnose child abuse, traumatizing families.

• Vanderhoof, E., Take Care of Maya: What to Read and Watch After Netflix’s Documentary

• Ubiera, C., Seven most disturbing details revealed in Maya Kowalski trial from dad Jack’s heartbreaking testimony to mom’s suicide

• Heartland Forensic, Do You Know The Difference Between Diagnostic Medicine and Forensic Medicine?

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Note: media accounts regarding Dr. Sally Smith did not start with the Maya Kowalski case, see also:

• Critics say powerful pediatrician too quick to diagnose child abuse, traumatizing families.

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Articles and Reports Related to CAP Practices & the Health Care System

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Articles Describing Best Practices/Use of Child Abuse Pediatrics
 

• Christian, C., “The Evaluation of Suspected Child Abuse,” Pediatrics, May 2015 (American Academy of Pediatrics)

• Leventhal, J., “Personal Practice: Thinking Clearly About Child Abuse Pediatrics”
  Written by the leading child abuse pediatrician who recommends the accurate identification of CAPs to families when meeting them in a hospital setting.

• National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, “Defining the Hospital Role in Child Maltreatment,” (2nd Edition). 

• National Children’s Alliance Annual Reports 

• Raz, M. & Gupta-Kagan, J., Using Child Abuse Specialists to Reduce Unnecessary Child Protective Services Reports and Investigations 

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Articles Raising Concerns About CAP Practices

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• Brown, A., Reforming the Use of Child Abuse Pediatric Teams in Child Protective Cases

• Presler, C., Mutual Deference Between Hospitals and Courts: How Mandated Reporting From Medical Providers Harms Families

• Verbenac, A., When a Medical Specialty Is Not A Specialty At All

• Redleaf, D., After the Hotline Call (The Atlantic, Jan. 27, 2019) 

• Redleaf, D., How Faint Bruises on Baby Ava Nearly Destroyed her Family

• Tiana, S., New Texas Law Curtails Power of Pediatricians Contracted by CPS

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LINKS & WEBSITES

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• Curated List of Outside Resources from the Family Justice Resource Center