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Parent Representation

About the Project

Quality representation and due process for all parties in the child welfare system are essential, but not always achieved. Too often child welfare policy and case by case decisions are made without meaningful input from parents or their advocates. The National Project to Improve Representation for Parents Involved in the Child Welfare System strengthens representation of parents in the child welfare system through:

  • training and technical assistance for parents’ attorneys, courts and legislators;
  • networking opportunities --a listserv and national conference focused on parent representation;
  • providing resources to improve parent representation; and
  • supporting system reforms that ensure parents and their attorneys are given a voice in the child welfare system.

The project is a collaboration between the ABA Center on Children and the Law, Casey Family Programs, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Child Welfare Fund, and the Steering Committee for the National Parents’ Counsel Organization.

For more information, please see:

Contact Us: Please direct inquiries to Mimi Laver.

Training

training

The Parent Representation Project provides on and off site training and technical assistance to:

  • teach practicing attorneys how to improve their representation including providing practice tools;
  • help jurisdictions implement Standards of Practice for Parents’ Attorneys;
  • make the case to courts and legislators for improving parents’ representation; or
  • find ways to include parents and parents’ attorneys in committees and other decision-making coalitions.

For more information on how the Parent Representation Project can collaborate with your Court Improvement Project click here

For an example of a day-long training for parents’ attorneys click here: Sample Agenda

Written Materials

  Standards of Practice for Parents’ Attorneys

The Standards of Practice and related articles were developed under the Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues funded by the Children’s Bureau.


parent representation
 
Articles Related to Parent Representation

CLP Articles on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System

This 7-part series offers practical guidance on engaging nonresident fathers in child welfare legal proceeding. For article list, click here. To learn more about the ABA Non-Resident Fathers Project, click here.

Copyright American Bar Association. http://www.abanet.org