EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Where We Stand: A 20-Year Retrospective of the Unaccompanied Children’s Program in the United States reviews the Unaccompanied Children’s Program from the passage of the Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002 until today. It assesses 20 years of … Read More
Children’s Attorney
Four Ways That Courts Can Actively Engage Children and Youth Involved in Child Welfare Proceedings
Four Ways That Courts Can Actively Engage Children and Youth Involved in Child Welfare Proceedings, authored by the NCJFJC in partnership with the Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Permanency, outlines how judges and other court professionals can engage … Read More
New Child Maltreatment Report Finds Child Abuse and Neglect Decreased to a Five-Year Low
Today, the Children’s Bureau at the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released the annual child maltreatment report. The report reveals that of the nationally estimated 3,016,000 children who were the subject of a … Read More
Qualifications and Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Need of Care – Reports Due January 31st
Since its enactment in 1974, CAPTA has required appointment of a “guardian ad litem” in “every case involving an abused or neglected child which results in a judicial proceeding.” States must meet this requirement, among others, in order to be … Read More
State of American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families Report
Published by NICWA – November 22, 2022 The State of American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families Report is a six-part series of data briefs that presents current data on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) child and family … Read More
Addressing the Impacts of Parent and Caregiver Loss on Children (Includes audio)
U.S. Administration for Children and Families – October 27, 2022 Losing a parent or caregiver is a tragic and life-changing event for a child. Supporting children and families who have experienced loss is deeply embedded in the strategic goals and … Read More
Benefits of Kinship Placement
The American Bar Association (ABA) developed a tool for lawyers to use in trial or during their appellate arguments to help them advocate for kinship placement. Benefits of Kinship Placement includes information and resources that counsel may be able to include in … Read More
The Little Agency That Could: Louisiana’s Mental Health Advocacy Service
By Rebecca May-Ricks and Kathy Lynn Cook, Published in American Bar Association – Children’s Rights Litigation (online) The Mental Health Advocacy Service (MHAS) was established in the late 1970s as part of Louisiana’s Division of Administration under the Office of … Read More
National Adoption Month Resources for Legal Professionals
Legal professionals often collaborate with the child welfare system and are integral to achieving permanency for teens. To provide quality representation and ensure the case plan meets the young person’s needs, legal professionals must engage youth. The resources below provide … Read More
Native American Heritage Month – ICWA
During Native American Heritage Month, we hope you will join us in celebrating ICWA’s legacy of keeping Native children safe, healthy, and connected to their families, communities, and cultures by learning more about allyship, active efforts, and building effective tribal-state … Read More