FEBRUARY 1997
RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association reaffirms its policy, as adopted by the House of Delegates in August 1980, to support increased efforts that prevent, identify, and treat child abuse and neglect through the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and also its policy to support the federal Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act with improvements, as adopted by the House of Delegates in both August 1980 and August 1988.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association reaffirms its commitment to legal system reform to help assure safe and permanent homes for abused, neglected, and abandoned children, including the protection of children within their nuclear or extended families, the reunification of families when safe, and quick placement in new, permanent homes, through such options as adoption or guardianship.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association supports enactment of federal and state legislation to study and address barriers to permanency, including adoption, for abused, neglected, and abandoned children.