CLC Practice Kit

Children's Law Center is pleased to offer revised versions of its Practice Kits to all members of the CCAN and GAL Panels, at no charge. Click the links below to view each kit as a PDF package. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader to ensure you can access the files. Please note that some of the files are large and may take a few minutes to download completely. Contact Nancy Drane with any questions.

Practice Kit 1, "Legal Resources and Important Contacts," includes relevant sections from Title 4 and Title 16 of the DC Code, applicable DC Superior Court Rules, DC Superior Court Child Abuse and Neglect Attorney Practice Standards and the Special Education Practice Standards, and useful contact information directories from the DC Courts, CCAN, CFSA and the Office of the Attorney General. Revised March 2012.

Practice Kit 2, "Permanency and Placement," includes practice guides on various permanency options (adoption, guardianship, custody), relevant sections from Title 4 and Title 16 of the DC Code related to adoption, guardianship, placement, and third-party custody, the legislative text of the Adoption Reform Amendment Act of 2010 (with related CLC Practice Memorandum), relevant DC Superior Court Rules, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, portions of the DC Code of Municipal Regulations that relate to placement, foster homes, guardianship subsidy, and the licensing of group homes and ILPs, the Code of Federal Regulations related to foster care and adoption assistance, ICPC materials, copies of CFSA temporary licensing packets (for MD and DC), updated CFSA Board Rates (2012), and a series of relevant DC Court of Appeals cases that relate to permanency issues. Revised March 2012.

Practice Kit 3, "Common Objections and Hearsay," includes helpful trial materials related to common objections and hearsay, including a list of common objections, a chart with commonly used objections and relevant statutory and case support, a chart with a summary of hearsay-related issues and relevant statutory and case support, the Federal Rules of Evidence and copies of a number of applicable DC cases, including some new cases from 2011. Revised March 2012.

Practice Kit 4, "A Practice Guide to the LaShawn A. Litigation," provides a summary of the LaShawn A. federal class action lawsuit filed in 1989 on behalf of maltreated children in the District's child welfare system. The kit includes court orders and plans for the last several years of the suit, as well as selected court monitor's reports and court decisions. CFSA information and additional resources are also part of the guide. Revised July 2011.

Practice Kit 5, "Appellate Practice in D.C. Abuse and Neglect Cases," covers general appellate principles, including appellate jurisdiction, scope of appeal, standard of review, and procedural matters, with a particular focus on neglect, guardianship, termination of parental rights (TPR), and adoption cases. It also includes an Appendix with excerpts from applicable provisions of the D.C. Code, D.C. Superior Court and D.C. Court of Appeals rules, a table with relevant case law summaries and the cases themselves, and commonly used forms. Finally, there is an Additional Resources section, primarily consisting of reference materials created by the D.C. Court of Appeals. Revised September 2011.

Practice Kit 6, the "Education Toolkit," contains school contact information, calendars, enrollment and stability information for DC and Prince George's County schools. There are also chapters on regulations and policies regarding school discipline, attendance and truancy, and special education provisions. There is also an overview of early intervention and preschool programs.  Revised August 2011.

Practice Kit 7, "Client Practice: Sexual Health Issues and Teen Parents," includes information to help practitioners address sexual health issues with teen clients. It also highlights issues that are particularly relevant to teen clients who become parents. Included are relevant federal and local laws; CFSA policy; information on sexual health issues, such as contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and abortion; resources for pregnant and parenting teens, such as parenting classes, prenatal health care, child care, custody and child support; and a guide to LGBTQ issues. Revised September 2011.

Practice Kit 8, "Medicaid Advocacy," aims to familiarize practitioners with the tools available to advocate within the Medicaid system for necessary, community‐based mental health services for children and youth. The kit should serve as a helpful resource to varied audiences and resources in this toolkit may be used to advocate for any child who lives in the District of Columbia, is a ward of D.C., or who is otherwise covered by D.C. Medicaid for any reason. Published September 2011.