ATTORNEYS
Accreditation of Child Welfare Attorneys
FEBRUARY 2004
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association accredits the Juvenile Law-Child Welfare program of the National Association of Counsel for Children of Denver, Colorado as a designated specialty program for lawyers.
Alien Children Custody/Representation Standards
AUGUST 2004
RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association adopts the black letter ABA Standards for the Custody, Placement and Care; Legal Representation; and Adjudication of Unaccompanied Alien Children in the United States, dated August 2004.
Bar Association and Attorney Action
FEBRUARY 1984
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association urges the members
of the legal profession, as well as state and local bar associations,
to respond to the needs of children by directing attention to issues
affecting children including, but not limited to: (1) the preservation
of children's legal rights; (2) the needs of children who have no
effective voice of their own in government; (3) drug and alcohol abuse
among children; (4) establishment of character, citizenship, parenting
skills, and child safety programs in public education; (5) implementation
of statutory and programmatic resources to meet the health and welfare
needs of children; (6) missing and molested children; and (7) establishment
of guardian ad litem programs.
Bar & Attorney Involvement in Child Protection Cases
AUGUST 1981
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association encourages individual
attorneys and state and local bar organizations to work more actively
to improve the handling of cases involving abused and neglected children
as well as children in foster care. Specifically, attorneys should
form appropriate committees and groups within the bar to help develop
better state legislation, court rules, and administrative regulations
related to all stages of these proceedings; should participate in
multidisciplinary teams and other community activities in which they
can interact with members of other concerned professional groups;
and should work to assure quality legal representation for children,
parents and child welfare agencies.
Bar Involvement in Programs & Coalitions to Support Teens & Families
AUGUST 1993
BE IT RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges state, territorial and local bar associations to establish policies in support of community service programs that (1) challenge teens and young adults to develop a sense of purpose and self-worth; (2) revitalize urban areas by fostering civic pride and volunteerism and (3) join with coalitions to help prevent the erosion of families and communities through drug abuse and related crime and violence.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges state,
territorial and local bar associations to encourage participation
in community service programs by bar members, law firms, and law schools.
Bar Involvement in Summer Youth Employment
FEBRUARY 1993
RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association urges local and state
bar associations to adopt a youth jobs program similar to the Summer
Law Internship of The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, providing
summer employment, education, esteem and enhancement of future socio-economic
potential for inner city youth, while simultaneously improving public
perception of lawyers and the legal profession.
Bar-Sponsored Children's Activities
FEBRUARY 1991
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association urges the members of the legal profession, as well as state and local bar associations, to support the creation of state and local bar sponsored interdisciplinary children's committees, of joint Governor/State Bar sponsored children's commissions, and of local Children's Services Councils to meet the needs of children as expressed in the 1984 resolution.
Child Representation Custody Case Standards of Practice
AUGUST 2003
RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association adopts the Standards of
Practice for Lawyers Representing Children in Custody Cases.
Counsel For Children Enhancement
FEBRUARY 1987
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association requests State and local bar associations to determine the extent to which statutory law and court rules in their States guarantee the right to counsel for children in juvenile court proceedings; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that State and local bar associations are urged to actively participate and support amendments to the statutory law and court rules in their State to bring them in to compliance with the Institute of Judicial Administration/American Bar Association Standards Relating to Counsel for Private Parties; and (More...)
Counsel For Indigent Parents
NOVEMBER 1987
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association urges that state
and local judicial systems and bar associations work to ensure that
competent attorneys be appointed for every indigent parent at all
stages of child protection proceedings, and that all attorneys receiving
such appointment have sufficient training or experience to provide
effective representation to parents.
Guardians Ad Litem
FEBRUARY 1992
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association urges:
(1) Every state and territory to meet the full intent of the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, whereby every child in the United States who is the subject of a civil child protection related judicial proceedings will be represented at all stages of these proceedings by a fully-trained, monitored, and evaluated guardian ad litem in addition to appointed legal counsel.
(2) That state, territory and local bar associations and law schools become involved in setting standards of practice for such guardians ad litem, clarify the ethical responsibilities of these individuals and establish minimum ethical performance requirements for their work, and provide comprehensive multidisciplinary training for all who serve as such guardians ad litem.
(3) That in every state and territory, where judges are given discretion to appoint a guardian ad litem in private child custody and visitation related proceedings, the bench and bar jointly develop guidelines to aid judges in determining when such an appointment is necessary to protect the best interests of the child.
Lawyers Representing Child Welfare Agencies
AUGUST 2004
RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association adopts Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Child Welfare Agencies.
Representing Abused & Neglected Children Standards
FEBRUARY 1996
BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association adopt the Standards
of Practice for Representing a Child in Abuse and Neglect Cases, including
preface and commentary, dated November 1995.
Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth Access to Counsel
FEBRUARY 2001
RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association supports the appointment of counsel at government expense for unaccompanied children for all stages of immigration processes and proceedings;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association favors the establishment within the Department of Justice of an independent office with child welfare expertise that would have an oversight role and ensure that children’s interests are respected at all stages of immigration processes and while in immigration custody; and,
FURTHER RESOLVED, that children in immigration custody cannot be released to family members, legal guardians or other appropriate adults and should be housed in culturally-appropriate family-like settings and not detained in facilities with or for juvenile offenders.
