Opinion ID: 2167237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Julie Thompson

Text: Julie Thompson, a licensed clinical social worker with Family Consultation Services, testified that she met respondents in September 1997, in conjunction with their attendance at a small group parenting class that she taught. The focus of the class, which consisted of three sessions, was behavior management. Although respondents expressed their anger at the system, their attitude toward the class was positive. Thompson testified that respondents' participation in class discussion indicated a knowledge of child development and parenting skills greater than the average participant, which suggested that they had attended parenting classes prior to her class. Although Thompson never observed respondents with their children, based on their class participation, it appeared to her that respondents were applying their knowledge of parenting skills. Thompson testified that a child who has special needs requires more intense parenting, and that a parent may have trouble parenting a child with special needs, but no trouble parenting a child without special needs.