ABA CHILD CUSTODY AND ADOPTION PRO BONO PROJECT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR DIRECTED GRANTS

2007-2008 Directed Grants Focus: Starting a Dialogue; Bringing People Together to Develop Pro Bono Child Representation Programs in Private Custody Cases

Guidelines

The Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project (the "Project") invites Judges, court support staff, local bar associations, pro bono programs, legal service programs, children's law centers, law-school sponsored clinics, court-connected programs, private attorneys, and other similar organizations to apply for directed grants supporting the pro bono delivery of legal services to children in private custody cases.

A. What is the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project?

The Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project is jointly sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the ABA Family Law Section. The Project is administered by and housed at the ABA Center for Pro Bono. The Project was established in February 2001 through a grant from Bill and Melita Grunow, in memory of their niece, Ann Liechty, a dedicated child law advocate.

The mission of the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project is to design and implement programs and policies that foster children's well-being, development, and safety during custody matters. The project focuses on pro bono representation of children in divorce, guardianship, adoption, parentage, and civil protective order cases.

B. Who is Eligible for the Grants?

All organizations that involve judges, attorneys, legal assistants, court personnel, law students, or other social or public service providers in the delivery of pro bono legal services to children in custody cases, or are interested in starting a program, including pro bono programs, legal service programs, children's law centers, local bar associations, and law-school sponsored legal aid clinics. It is envisioned that individual entities will apply together for a collaborative project. This collaboration should include at least three of the following entities: Judges, court support staff, local bar associations, pro bono programs, legal service programs, children's law centers, law-school sponsored clinics, court-connected programs, private attorneys, and other similar organizations. At least one of the organizations applying must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. Past ABA grantees are eligible.

C. What Types of Projects Will Be Funded in 2007-2008?

Funding will be provided to assist local partners in starting a dialogue among all key players (courts, bar associations, local programs, law schools, etc.) to brainstorm ways to develop programs which will provide pro bono representation to children in private custody cases in their community. The grants are not an ongoing source of funding, but are meant to start or enhance projects that can be sustained by other resources.

D. What is an Eligible "Custody" Case?

To be eligible, the proposed pro bono project must address proceedings in one of the five following areas: divorce/dissolution (including post-decree); parentage/unmarried parents; adoption; private guardianship; or civil protective orders. The project must currently, or propose to, directly represent the children involved in these proceedings, and not the adults. Projects which provide services in the area of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency proceedings are not eligible, except to the extent they also address one of the five eligible areas.

E. What are the Application Requirements?

The proposal must be prepared in an electronic format using the "2007-2008 Directed Grant Application" developed by the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project. A copy of the Application is available at www.abachildcustodyproject.org or by email from gillespg@staff.abanet.org. The completed Application may not exceed ten pages, 12 point font, single-spaced.

In addition to the Application Form, applicants must submit two letters of support from other organizations involved in the applicant's project or with knowledge of the needs to be addressed by the project. The letters must be signed by the president, board chair, chief executive, or other equivalent authority of the organization. The letters of support are not part of the 10-page limit.

F. What Funding is Available?

In November, 2007, the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project will award grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,500, from a total grant pool of $50,000.

G. What is the Grant Period?

These grants are for a period up to six months. Funds will be distributed in one lump sum in November, 2007, following receipt by ABA of a signed grant agreement. Funds must be expended by May, 2008. Final grant reports will be due upon expenditure of the funds, but will be required to be completed no later than May 31, 2008.

H. How and When to Apply?

By October 30, 2007, at 5:00 PM Central Time:

(1) email the completed 2007-2008 Directed Grant Application to Genie Miller Gillespie, Project Director, at gillespg@staff.abanet.org AND

(2) place in the U.S. mail a hard copy of the Application and two letters of support, addressed to Genie Miller Gillespie, ABA Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project, 321 N. Clark 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610.

Grant decisions will be made in November, 2007.

I. Reporting

Because a major goal of the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project is to identify successful projects that can be replicated by other groups, grant recipients will be expected to provide the Project with a report at the end of the grant period. The report will include such things as record-keeping procedures, intake forms, surveys, client education materials, advocate training materials, a project summary, and documents that will help other programs develop successful child custody projects. It is understood that due to the nature of these grants as "idea grants" projects may not be up and running at the end of the grant period. In those cases, the final reports will merely reflect all of the steps taken to date as well as plans for the future of the project.

J. Questions about the Directed Grants

All questions about the grants should be directed to the Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project Director, Genie Miller Gillespie, at gillespg@staff.abanet.org, or 312-988-5805. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Director with any questions regarding the process or eligibility.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

CHILD CUSTODY AND ADOPTION PRO BONO PROJECT

2007-2008 DIRECTED GRANT APPLICATION

Starting a Dialogue: Bringing People Together to Develop Pro Bono Child Representation Programs in Private Custody Cases

I.Applicant Information

Applicant Organization Affiliated/Sponsoring Organization (if any)

Name: Name:

Address: Address:

Telephone: Telephone:

Fax: Fax:

Website: Website:

Project Director

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Service Area: ___State ___County ___City ___Other(________________)

II. Basic Project Information

A. What is your organization's mission and focus?

B. Describe the ways, if any, in which you have provided: (1) pro bono representation to children in custody and/or adoption cases; (2) pro bono representation to children in other areas; and/or (3) other representation to children in custody or adoption cases. (If you have not provided any of these types of representation in the past, please so state, and describe the other experiences that qualify your organization for a grant).

C. Provide a short description (no more than 4 sentences) of the project for which

you are seeking funding, focusing on who (which individuals and/or entities) will be brought together for this project and initial ideas for how you will develop a pro bono child representation program in private custody cases, as described in the Request for Proposals for Directed Grants. You must include at least three of the following entities in your proposal: Judges, court support staff, local bar associations, pro bono programs, legal service programs, children's law centers, law-school sponsored legal aid clinics, court-connected programs, private attorneys, and other similar organizations.

D. Particular area(s) of custody to be addressed: (check all that apply)

__ Divorce/Dissolution (including post-decree)

__ Parentage/Unmarried Parents

__ Adoption

__ Private Guardianship

__ Domestic Violence Protective Orders

E. Describe any current or past projects or programs where you have worked with other entities or programs to represent children in private custody cases.

F. Project budget summary: (provide only for the pro bono child custody component of your project) (details of your budget should be provided in Section V, and not here)

III. Grant Request

Amount requested from Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project:____________

Total Project budget: _____________

IV.Statement of Need for Children's Legal Representation in Private Custody Cases

Provide a statement of your need for the funds, including information for your geographic area on the number of children in custody cases; the number of children currently being served; the status of current representation of children in custody cases; the problems facing children in custody cases; the need for additional pro bono services; a description of the court systems handling these cases; and the current laws, standards, guidelines and jurisdictional rules for attorneys representing children.

V. Detailed Project Information

Provide full responses to each of the following questions, addressing only the project for which you are seeking funding. Your response to these questions should include a detailed description of the pro bono component of the services; staff responsibilities; coordination with relevant bar associations and non-profits; and the role of any partnering organizations.

A. What are the objectives of the project?

B. Who are the children who will be served, including population descriptors, geographic boundaries, referral sources, and any income qualifications?

C. What training/support/supervision will be provided as part of the project?

D. How will this training/support/supervision be provided?

E. How will you incorporate the ABA Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Children in Custody Cases in your jurisdiction?

F. What are your plans for the project beyond the grant period?

G. Will the project be replicable by other entities, and if so, and how?

VI. Detailed Budget Information

Provide specified amounts for all relevant budget items for the project for which you are seeking funding, including staffing, materials, overhead, trainings, etc. Specifically identify the use for the amount requested under this grant application. Indicate the source of all matching or contributing funds. Also specify your full program budget for the larger entity or organization.

VII. Application Procedures

By October 30, 2007, at 5:00 PM Central Time:

(1) email the completed 2007-2008 Directed Grant Application to Genie Miller Gillespie, Project Director, at gillespg@staff.abanet.org, AND

(2) place in the U.S. mail a hard copy of the completed 2007-2008 Directed Grant Application (not to exceed 10 pages) and two letters of support, addressed to Genie Miller Gillespie, Director, ABA Child Custody and Adoption Pro Bono Project, 321 N. Clark, 19th Floor, Chicago, IL 60610.