Author: counselforkids

Counsel for Kids Legislative Updates

New Hampshire considered (retained) House Bill 535 (2023) during a closed interim Children and Family Law Committee session on October 31. As amended, it requires the appointment of legal counsel for children placed in institutions or group homes and permits judges to appoint attorneys to any child in child protection court proceedings. The committee made an “ought to […]

NACC Virtual Training Series: High-Quality Legal Representation for Infants and Toddlers

NACC invites all practitioners to join us for our inaugural virtual training series: High-Quality Legal Representation for Infants and Toddlers. Presented by NACC staff, and created in partnership with the ABA Center on Children and the Law, the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, Zero to Three, and the Kempe Center, this first-of-its-kind training series focuses […]

Counsel for Kids Mid-Year Update

The first half of the year has been full of activity for the Counsel for Kids campaign. The campaign supported successful policy reform, released new resources, and held various engagements to spread the word about why children in court need lawyers of their own. Campaign Legislative Progress The C4K campaign celebrates a victory for children […]

Montana Passes Counsel for Kids Legislation

Last week, Montana passed Senate Bill 148, which guarantees right to counsel for children experiencing the child protection system by statute. With the passage of this law, Montana becomes the 37th state to guarantee counsel for kids. The law requires the court to appoint Expressed/Stated-Interest legal counsel in all dependency cases. The Counsel for Kids […]

NACC Releases Policymaker’s Guide to Counsel for Kids as States Fail to Guarantee Legal Representation, Tap Federal Funds 

First comprehensive, state-level policy paper to address woeful lack of legal representation for children experiencing the child protection system.  April 26, 2023  Contact: Evan Molinari  339-707-0406  [email protected]  DENVER, CO. – As states grapple with the unfulfilled promise of justice for all, the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) releases the first comprehensive, state-level guide […]

Pending Legislation Across the Country to Advance Children’s Right to  Counsel

Momentum is building around the country to ensure counsel for kids experiencing the child protection system. Florida Senate Bill 488 would expand the categories of dependent children who are entitled to counsel and require the state agency to work directly with the Justice Administrative Commission to obtain Title IV-E funds for children’s legal representation. The bill […]