Child Welfare Policy Resources

Guidelines for Public Policy and Legislation Governing Permanence for Children
The Guidelines represent one of several action steps undertaken by the Federal government in response to Adoption 2002, President Clinton's Initiative on Adoption and Foster Care.  Don Duquette, while on sabbatical to the U.S. Children's Bueau in 1997-98, managed an expert work group for the Bureau and, with Mark Hardin, drafted Permanecy for Children: Guidelines for Public Policy and State Legislation.

View the guidelines by clicking here.

Model Acts and Guidelines
Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Children in Custody Cases
The American Bar Association House of Delegates has approved the Section of Family Law Recommendation on the Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Children in Custody Cases, effective August 2003.

Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing a Child in Abuse and Neglect Cases
These Abuse and Neglect Standards are meant to apply when a lawyer is appointed for a child in any legal action based on:

• a petition filed for protection of the child;
• a request to a court to change legal custody, visitation, or guardianship based on allegations of child abuse or neglect based on sufficient cause; or
• an action to terminate parental rights.

Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Child Welfare Agencies.
The purpose of these standards is to improve the quality of child welfare agency representation.  Effective August 2004.

Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines published in Summer 2005, is a benchbook of best practices that was developed by a committee of judges, a Chief Justice, prosecutors, defense attorneys, juvenile justice practitioners, and other professionals representing key stakeholders in the juvenile justice system, through the support of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.