We are experiencing a time of evolution and momentum in child welfare law, policy, and research. In late 2018, the Children’s Bureau, a division of the federal Administration for Children & Families, announced that it would provide state agencies with matching federal child welfare funds under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. This could dramatically increase access to effective counsel for parents and children in child welfare proceedings. Recently, Professor Martin Guggenheim (NYU Law) and his colleagues completed a cutting-edge, multi-year study examining child welfare outcomes by access to and type of legal representation. Their findings are dramatic: When parents were represented by a multi-disciplinary law practice, there was a significant reduction in the amount of time children spent in foster care. The study also suggests many children needlessly remain in foster care. These developments create enormous possibilities for child welfare advocates.
Business meeting at program conclusion.