Center on Children and the Law

The Center promotes access to justice for children and families. Our team of attorneys and core staff work on a diverse portfolio of national, regional and local projects in the children’s law field throughout the country. Center projects are unified by two complementary goals: improving legal representation and improving the legal systems that impact children and families.

Center News

Tool for Engaging the Legal Community in Implementing Family First

This tool lays the groundwork for state and local child welfare agencies to partner with the legal community to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act. This includes identifying and addressing the Act’s potential legal implications. The goal of the tool is to facilitate conversations and collaboration with the legal community to maximize the legislation’s positive impact for children and families.

ABA Comments on HHS Proposal to Modify Nondiscrimination Language

On December 16, 2019 ABA President Judy Perry Martinez filed a public comment in response to HHS’s proposal to modify nondiscrimination language in federal regulation (45 C.F.R. § 75.300). The ABA opposes the proposed changes because they are unsupportable under both child welfare law and the Administrative Procedure Act.

New Kinship Brief on FFPSA and Title IV-E GAP

This new brief by the Grandfamilies Project highlights provisions in the Family First Prevention Services Act related to kinship families and federal Title IV-E GAP (GAP). It suggests how states and eligible tribes can build on these provisions to promote use of assisted guardianship for children in kinship foster care.

Effective Strategies for Courtroom Advocacy on Drug Use and Parenting

This new CLP Today article by Dr. Ron Abrahams and Nancy Rosenbloom recommends a harm reduction approach to advocating for parents accused of child neglect or abuse related to drug or alcohol use.

New Toolkit: Using Adolescent Brain Research to Engage Youth

This new toolkit shares the latest adolescent brain science and explains how to use it to engage youth in their court hearings and case planning.

Race and Poverty Bias in the Child Welfare System: Strategies for Child Welfare Attorneys

New CLP Today article with guidance for child law practitioners on identifying and addressing race and poverty bias in the child welfare system.

FFPSA and Legal Representation Funding

This fact sheet clarifies the distinction between Title IV-E funding for legal representation and Title IV-E funding for Family First Prevention Services.

CIP Reauthorization through COURTS Act

The Center has issued a public statement in partnership with other legal organizations expressing support for the Continuing of Useful Resources to States (COURTS) Act (S. 2587, H.R. 4602), which would reauthorize critical Court Improvement Program grants beyond 2021 to help state courts address child welfare cases across the country.

ABA Family Integrity & Family Unity Policy

This new ABA policy recognizes that children and parents have rights to family integrity and family unity. Its provisions emphasize the role of the legal system in efforts to preserve families and maintain family connectedness during child welfare system involvement.