Excited to share that ABA President Mary Smith submitted a Public Comment strongly supporting HHS's proposed rule on #FosterCare #LegalRepresentation. ow.ly/gqNA50Qe4pv; Listen to Jey Rajaraman's #TheImprintNews podcast on the Rule. ow.ly/XT9550Qe4pw

"What I'm working to do right now is to narrow the front door, to make it more difficult for children to be separated from their parents, especially for reasons that are related to poverty or not related to abuse." Joyce McMillan on NPR ow.ly/YtOA50Qe51V; #JMAC_org

NEW! Discussion Guide: What Draws Attorneys to Child Welfare Practice? Questions to Inform Attorney Retention and Recruitment Strategies ow.ly/Nxxm50QrOLv

Kinship Unity Action Agenda Release Event, Feb 8, 2024, 3 - 4:00 pm ETFebhttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LJn3mTSGSe6KWj_Wmuicww#/registration

Our 2024 ABA Conference Agendas are posted! Register soon to save a spot or book a group attendance. Early Bird rates close in just 8 days. ow.ly/rMmg50QAIkq

ABA Associate Director of Legal Representation, Jey Rajaraman, discusses how federal funding for access to representation signifies a governmental investment in “the moral cost” of the child welfare system. ow.ly/r3iS50QJtGt

Calling all "humble leaders". We're accepting nominations for the Mark Hardin Award for Child Welfare Legal Scholarship and Systems Change through March 4. Thanks so much for recognizing your colleagues and partners through the nominations process. americanbar.org/groups/public_…

New state level data shows the relationship between high CPS investigation rates and low rates of screening reports out, recognizing the costs of over-investigation fall on children and parents who experience trauma with every "knock at the door." ow.ly/lLv850QMV49

Did you know every $100 in child support collections delays family reunification by 6.6 months? Join the ABA's 2024 National Family Unification month webinar on 6/11 at 3pm EDT to learn how to improve reunification by challenging child support practices. ow.ly/U70K50S7Fbj

The ABA just submitted testimony for the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Family First Prevention Services Act explaining how child welfare is both a legal and social services system. americanbar.org/content/dam/ab…. For more on legal roles in FFPSA americanbar.org/content/dam/ab…

Help us spread the word about National Family Unification Month in June with a specially designed screen background or email signature. ow.ly/wpoB50Sc5Ol

Don't miss our Family Unification Month webinar Tues. at 3pm ET- Increasing Reunification Efforts by Eliminating Child Support Referrals. We have an amazing speaker list (Shrounda Selivanoff, Jey Rajaraman, Jill Duerr Berrick) and over 600 registrants! ow.ly/U70K50S7Fbj.

Join us! Family Unification Month Webinar 6/25 at 3 ET: What does Preserving Families look like under ICWA and for Indigenous Families? Speakers include Forester Middleton, Shana King , Kyle Spang, and Sheldon Spotted Elk. ow.ly/3Bie50Sjt0Z

Please join us in celebrating Kara P., this year’s first national Family Unification Month Hero! Kara led and has continued to lead community change for families in her community. ow.ly/hXyQ50Sqo59

We're honored to celebrate Victoria J. as our second National Unification Hero this month! Victoria is a superstar fighter and Parent leader in Maine. She never gave up on her son coming home. ow.ly/b5pp50SqobK

We're honored to announce that Lisa C. is a National Family Unification Hero from Georgia! She and her husband fought for guardianship of their grandson and are advocates for change within the child welfare system. ow.ly/Ghuv50Sr0I1

Join us in celebrating Unification Hero Sharwline Nicholson and Hero Team, David Lansner and Carolyn Kubitschek, who made national history in 2004 in Nicholson v. Scoppetta, and continue the fight today. ow.ly/1oFo50Sr1pg For more on the case. ow.ly/1r4O50Sr1pf

Join us in celebrating Unification Hero Jake L. from Utah! "Even when it seemed like the State would not reunite him with his children, Jake continued fighting . . . he proved his undying commitment to his kids, who are now finally happy in his care." americanbar.org/content/dam/ab…

Join the ABA Center on Children and the Law and Generations United on 8/29 for a webinar examining criminal background barriers to foster home licensing for kin caregivers! Register here: ow.ly/uj2H50SURr6

Join us 10/16 at 1:30 EDT to launch a new webinar series on practices and programs that lift up family voice effectively to improve legal advocacy. The first session looks at the African American Family Preservation Act: How History was made in Minnesota. ow.ly/sVsV50TfujA