ABA Center on Children and the Law and Commission on Youth at Risk Address Legal Needs of Children and Families

The American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law (the Center)/Commission on Youth at Risk (the Commission) began as separate entities but combined in 2018 because of their interrelated purposes. The Center’s mission is to promote access to justice for children and families. The Commission’s mission is to address the legal needs of children, youth, and young adults who are disadvantaged or marginalized due to legal system involvement, poverty, race, national origin or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability, or religion.

The Center was established in the 1970s as a grant-funded entity to become a resource on child welfare law. Several years later, in 2006, the Commission was established to focus on the legal needs of children and youth ages 13–19. The Center includes 24 staff attorney positions. The Commission comprises 16 Commission members and 12 Advisory Committee members appointed by the ABA President.

How Does the Center on Children and the Law/Commission on Youth at Risk Carry Out Its Mission?

The Center employs a three-pronged approach to carry out its mission. First, the Center works directly with individual communities to build the capacity of the local legal system to help children, parents, and families. With the knowledge it obtains through local initiatives, the Center partners with national organizations to provide guidance on legal programs and policy reform at a national level. Finally, based on its experience at the local and national level, the Center acts as a centralized resource on children’s law by planning conferences and developing training materials.

The Center is grant-funded, with a wide range of funds supporting its various programs. Each program has different deliverables. For example, some grants require the Center to create new tools, provide technical assistance, conduct trainings, or organize constituency groups.

At the national policy-making level, the Center was invited to testify before Congress on the importance of child welfare and social services. The Center also files amicus briefs in US Supreme Court cases involving children’s issues. For example, the Center filed an amicus brief in Haaland v. Brackeen, which affirmed the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The Center also sets ABA National Standards for Attorneys Who Represent Children in Child Welfare Proceedings, Attorneys Who Represent Parents in Child Welfare Proceedings, and Attorneys Who Represent Child Welfare Agencies.

The Commission provides ABA member engagement to the Center by evaluating child and youth topics. Commission members set the ABA’s policy on child and youth law, unify the ABA’s approach, and develop presentations on the topics.

What Skills Can You Learn Through the Center on Children and the Law/Commission on Youth at Risk?

The Center’s core programs include:

• foster care and education projects;
• national court projects;
• kinship care/grandfamilies projects;
• youth engagement projects;
• state permanency barriers projects;
• legal representation projects for child, parent, and agency attorneys;
• immigration and child welfare projects;
• publication of the Child Law Practice Today journal; and
• the Commission on Youth at Risk.

Does the Center on Children and the Law/Commission on Youth at Risk Offer Training?

Every year, the Center provides a variety of training on various topics in child and youth law. The Center trains tens of thousands of attorneys every year and hosts two conferences with approximately 900 participants. In addition, the Center offers specific trainings on Child Welfare Attorney Trial Skills, Youth Engagement in Court Proceedings, Education Advocacy for Court-Involved Youth, Building a Kin-First Welfare Culture, Understanding Immigration in Child Welfare Cases, and Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act.

How Can You Support the Center on Children and the Law/Commission on Youth at Risk?

If you practice in the area of child and youth law, attend one of the Center’s trainings and develop your skills. If you do not practice in this area, represent the interests of children, parents, and tribes in your specific area of law. The Center generally does not encourage a lot of pro bono representation because this area of law involves incredibly sensitive and important issues.

How Can You Engage the Center on Children and the Law/Commission on Youth at Risk’s Work in Your Practice?

• Designate your interest in child and youth law on your ABA profile.
• Use ABA-developed policies.
• Attend the Center’s trainings and conferences.
• Follow the Center online.
• Sign up for Child Law Practice Today.
• Reach out to the Center to learn more about its mission and programs.
• Donate to the Center.