Child Welfare and the Law - Resources Listings

The following organizations are among many that provide information on child welfare legal issues for legal, court, and agency professionals serving children and families. Inclusion on this list is for information purposes and does not constitute an endorsement by the Clearinghouse or the Children's Bureau.

ABA Center on Children and the Law
740 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005-1022 Phone: (202) 662-1720
Fax: (202) 662-1755
E-mail: ctrchildlaw@abanet.org
Website: http://www.abanet.org/child/
The ABA Center on Children and the Law seeks to improve the laws, policies, and judicial procedures affecting children by supporting legal representation for youth, facilitating coordination between attorneys and caseworkers, reducing court delays, and providing training to court professionals involved in child welfare.

American Bar Association (ABA)
740 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005-1019 Phone: (202) 662-1000
Toll-Free: (800) 285-2221
E-mail: askaba@abanet.org
Website: http://www.abanet.org
The ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public. ABA publications include a "Consumer's Guide to Legal Help," with lawyer and pro bono attorney locator services.

American Bar Association Family Law Section
Family Law Section
750 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (312) 988-5145
(202) 662-1000
Fax: (312) 988-6800
E-mail: familylaw@abanet.org
Website: http://www.abanet.org/family/home.html
The American Bar Association Family Law Section was organized to improve the administration of justice in the field of family law. Areas such as divorce, custody, adoption, alimony, and support are within the scope of the Family Law Section, as are emerging issues such as third party parental rights, marital torts, Federal and interstate legislation, mediation, and the complicated questions of paternity, perinatal drug addiction, bankruptcy to deprive divorcing spouses of property, and genetic engineering. The Web site has a special section devoted to "General Public Resources," including frequently asked questions and "how to find an attorney."

American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI)
99 Canal Center Plaza
Suite 510
Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: (703) 549-9222
Fax: (703) 836-3195
Website: http://www.ndaa-apri.org
APRI is the research, training, and technical assistance affiliate of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). The institute, a nonprofit research and program development resource for prosecutors at all levels of government, is committed to providing interdisciplinary responses to complex problems of criminal justice. Child abuse, abduction, and exploitation are among APRI's major focuses, as is juvenile justice. An APRI program, the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse (NCPCA), is a leading resource for expert legal assistance, training, court reform, and up-to-date information on criminal child abuse investigations and prosecutions.

Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC)
American Public Human Services Association
810 First Street NE
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002-4267 Phone: (202) 682-0100
Fax: (202) 289-6555
E-mail: icpcinbox@APHSA.org
Website: http://icpc.aphsa.org
The Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children is a uniform State law establishing a contract among party States to ensure that children placed across state lines receive adequate protection and services. The primary function of the ICPC is to protect the interests of both the children and the States by requiring that certain procedures be followed in the interstate placement of children who are being adopted, placed with relatives, or going into residential care or foster family homes.

<.b>Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (AAICAMA)
American Public Human Services Association
810 First Street NE
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20002-4267 Phone: (202) 682-0100
Fax: (202) 289-6555
E-mail: DEvans@aphsa.org
Website: http://aaicama.aphsa.org
The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance facilitates the administration of the ICAMA. The Compact is the legal mechanism by which member States regulate and coordinate the interstate delivery of services to children with special needs who are adopted pursuant to adoption assistance agreements. Along with advocating State participation in the ICAMA, the Association provides technical and legal assistance, education and training, and materials on practice and policy issues.

Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (JJ)
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000 Fax: (301) 519-5212
Toll-Free: (800) 851-3420
E-mail: askjj@ncjrs.org
Website: http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/programs/ProgSummary.asp?pi=2
The Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse was established by the Federal Government's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) as a resource for people interested in juvenile justice, delinquency issues, and the OJJDP. JJ provides assistance with information on specific juvenile justice and delinquency prevention issues and help with ordering publications, requesting materials and information on conferences, and obtaining information on grants and funding opportunities.

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC)
330 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20447 Phone: (703) 352-3488
Fax: (703) 385-3206
Toll-Free: (888) 251-0078
E-mail: naic@caliber.com
Website: http://naic.acf.hhs.gov
NAIC offers information on all aspects of adoption for professionals, policy makers, and the general public. The Clearinghouse develops and maintains a computerized database of books, journal articles, and other materials on adoption and related topics, conducts database searches, publishes materials on adoption, and gives referrals to related services and experts in the field. NAIC also maintains a database of experts knowledgeable in various areas of adoption practice. NAIC's primary audiences are adoption professionals and adoptive parents and children.

National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC)
1825 Marion Street
Suite 242
Denver, CO 80218 Toll-Free: (888) 828-NACC
E-mail: advocate@NACCchildlaw.org
Website: http://www.naccchildlaw.org
The National Association of Counsel for Children works to improve the legal protection and representation of children by training and educating child advocates and by effecting policy and legal systems change. The NACC sponsors conferences and seminars on important issues confronting child advocates and files amicus curiae briefs in selected court cases affecting children. The Association also has a legislative agenda, a national child advocate awards program, and a speakers bureau.

National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
300 Newport Avenue
Williamsburg, VA 23185 Fax: (757) 564-2022
Toll-Free: (800) 616-6164
E-mail: knowledge@ncsc.dni.us
Website: http://www.ncsconline.org
The National Center for State Courts is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of the justice system. NCSC accomplishes its mission by providing leadership and service to State courts, helping them improve the administration of justice and better serve the public. Leadership activities include developing policies to enhance State courts, advancing the interests of State courts within the Federal Government, fostering State court adaptation to future changes, securing sufficient resources for State courts, strengthening State court leadership, facilitating State court collaboration, and providing a model for organizational administration.

National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues
740 15th Street NW
9th Floor
Washington, DC 20005-1009 Phone: (202) 662-1736
Fax: (202) 662-1755
Website: http://www.abanet.org/child/rclji/home.html
The National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues, a service of the Children's Bureau, is dedicated to achieving safety, permanence, and well-being for abused and neglected children through improved laws and judicial decision-making. The Center provides training, technical assistance, and consultation to agencies and courts on all legal and judicial aspects of the child welfare system, including court improvement, reasonable-efforts requirements, legal representation of children and their families, guardianship, and other emerging child welfare issues. The Center also works to broaden the knowledge of agencies, courts, and other professionals on issues involving foster care, permanency planning, and adoption.

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
330 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20447 Phone: (703) 385-7565
Fax: (703) 385-3206
Toll-Free: (800) FYI-3366
E-mail: nccanch@caliber.com
Website: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov
The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information, a service of the Children's Bureau, helps professionals locate information on child abuse and neglect and related child welfare issues. Among its resources, the Clearinghouse offers a bibliographic database of child maltreatment and related child welfare materials, summaries of State laws concerned with child abuse and neglect and child welfare, fact sheets, resource lists, bulletins, and other publications. Jointly with the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information publishes the Children's Bureau Express, an online digest of news and resources for professionals concerned with child maltreatment, child welfare, and adoption.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
7700 East First Place
Denver, CO 80230 Phone: (303) 364-7700
(202) 624-5400
Fax: (202) 737-1069
(303) 364-7800
E-mail: info@ncsl.org
Website: http://www.ncsl.org
The National Conference of State Legislatures promotes information sharing by tracking legislation and policy issues in State legislatures and the effect of Federal initiatives on the States. The NCSL offers information, publications, conferences, consulting services, and professional development seminars. The NCSL also advocates for the States by lobbying, testifying, and collaborating on Capitol Hill.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ)
P.O. Box 8970
Reno, NV 89507 Phone: (775) 784-6012
Fax: (775) 784-6628
E-mail: admin@ncjfcj.unr.edu
Website: http://www.ncjfcj.org/
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is dedicated to improving the court system's handling of juvenile and family matters through applied research, technical assistance, and continuing education of judges and juvenile justice professionals on family violence, child abuse and neglect, and child protection and custody.

National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
100 West Harrison Street
North Tower, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98119 Fax: (206) 270-0078
Toll-Free: (800) 628-3233
E-mail: inquiry@nationalcasa.org
Website: http://www.nationalcasa.org
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association is a nonprofit organization created to support the development, growth, and continuation of court appointed special advocate (CASA) programs. CASA volunteers advise courts on the best interests of children who may be victims of abuse or neglect. The Association provides support in training, legal research, fundraising, public awareness, and government relations services to local CASA groups.

National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
810 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20531 Phone: (202) 307-2942
Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij
The National Institute of Justice is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Institute researches crime control and justice issues, and provides evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, mostly at the State and local levels.

National Legal Aid & Defender Association
1140 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 452-0620
Fax: (202) 872-1031
E-mail: info@nlada.org
Website: http://www.nlada.org
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association provides support, technical assistance, services, and advocacy for public and pro bono justice system professionals who serve primarily low-income clients, families, and communities.

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
810 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20531 Phone: (202) 307-5983
TTY: (877) 712-9279
Toll-Free: (800) 627-6872
E-mail: askovc@ojp.usdoj.gov
Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/
The Office for Victims of Crimes was established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime. OVC provides substantial funding to State victim assistance and compensation programs, the lifeline services that help victims to heal. The agency also supports training designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals on the rights and needs of crime victims. OVC is one of five bureaus and four offices with grant-making authority within the Office of Justice Programs of the U.S. Department of Justice.