The ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference has ended and I am back at work. The EJC is a joint effort of the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA). The EJC provided a great forum in which to learn from interesting programming and from getting to know others whose work involves providing legal services to those who cannot afford legal help. I hoped to be able to report on a daily basis but found little time to fit that in. Here are some of the highlights.
Tag: selfhelp
I am the AALL Representative to the Self Represented Litigation Network or the SRLN. Over the last year I have been working with other members of the SRLN Law Librarians’ Working Group, analyzing the results of the “Survey of Law Library Programs for Self Represented Litigants, including Self-Help Centers.” The survey task force, also members of AALL State, Court and County Law Library Special Interest Section, included Marnie Warner, Sara Galligan, and Charley Dyer.
Today I reported on the survey at the SRLN pre-conference workshop at the Equal Justice Conference in Portland.
Jessican Van Buren, chair of the SRLN Law Librarians’ Working Group, has posted the report, survey results and other supporting documents at SelfHelpSupport: http://www.selfhelpsupport.org/surveys/ .
The survey shows how law libraries of all types serve the needs of the self-represented litigants. Law Libraries serve the SRL by providing the more traditional law library services of research assistance, use of online databases and referrals. They also provide services designed especially for the SRL such as websites, publications and forms. Law libraries also work with self-help centers but the results show that law libraries can also provide the self-help center in the library or house a self-help center managed by another organization.
The report can act as guide for those seeking to develop programs for service to the SRL. We hope that the information will be of value to not only the law library community but to the courts, the bar, legal services providers, public libraries and access to justice organizations involved in service to the self-represented litigant.
The 7th Annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day was held on March 29 at Annapolis High School.
There were 19 attorneys who provided legal advice to 88 participants who had questions about 95 legal issues. (For more detail see the Statistics page.) As expected the number one issue was how to expunge a criminal record. Three of the 35 who asked fit the criteria for filing and were able to complete expungement petitions that were mailed or filed with the courts on Monday. HPRP (Homeless Persons Representation Project) completed an expungement intake to follow-up on a more complicated case. Having Antonia Fasanelli, Executive Director of HPRP, and HPRP volunteer Mike Stone on hand for the day is really helpful to the volunteer attorneys assisting those with questions about their criminal records. This year HPRP was also able to provide intakes for two who had benefits questions.
The Maryland Lawyers Volunteer Service (MVLS) not only sponsored the Anne Arundel pro bono participation in the event but was also there in person to screen for those eligible for MVLS services. It was a great help to have Jessica Rich, Intake Paralegal, come with attorneys Joseph Franco, William Cooke and Cheri Wendt-Taczak.
Having attorneys from the Office of the Public Defender, William Cooke and Denis O’Connell, is helpful to those that need representation for current criminal cases. This year they performed 4 OPD intakes.
Every year there is a large contingent from the Anne Arundel County office of Maryland Legal Aid. This year Anita Bailey, Margaret Leonard, Lisa Sarro, Jessica Quincosa, Amy Siegel, and Kathy Hughes were able to assist with many of the issues faced by the homeless.
Of course, legal services could not be provided without the the pro bono attorneys who practice solo or in small firms: Tasnima Apol, Kari Fawcett, Kurt Roper, Andrew DiBlasio, Scott MacMullan, Gene Brennan, Ginina Stevenson, and Angela Tonello.
Legal services are coordinated by me, Joan Bellistri, Director of the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and Chair of the Local Pro Bono Committee. As a law librarian I can provide backup reference and research services. Bringing a printer is also helpful when working with criminal record research for the expungement cases.
We can only hope that someday the need for this program will be eliminated. Until then the dedication of these volunteers is truly appreciated.
The Annual Pro Bono Recognition lunch was held on Friday, January 17. It was the best turnout ever for the event with 45 attorneys, judges, and court staff filling the law library’s reading room. Attorneys who volunteer for the Lawyer in the Library programs and Homeless Resource Day as well as Court Facilitators and MVLS volunteers were honored for their pro bono service and provided lunch catered by the Main Ingredient.
All volunteers in attendance received a certificate thanking them for their service and the number of pro bono hours were also provided if an Ask a Lawyer volunteer.
The Local Pro Bono Committee was represented by Scott MacMullan, Michelle Moodispaw, Chris Poulsen, Anita Bailey, Lisa Sarro, Suzanne Vetter, Hon. Pamela North and Joanie Bellistri, Chair. New member, Lauren Wallace of the YWCA Domestic Violence Program made her first contact with the Committee at the lunch.
Hon. Ronald Silkworth, Hon. Paul Harris, Hon. Michael Wachs, Hon. William Mulford, Hon. Philip Caroom, Hon Pamela North, Hon. Paul Hackner were able to come to the lunch as well as masters Muskin, Thurtle and Gunning. In fact, all of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court bench who were in court on Friday were there. It was especially nice that Anne Arundel County Appellate Court judges, Hon. Clayton Greene and Hon. Timothy Meredith, were able to come, too. Having a judicial presence and the words of appreciation by Judge Hackner, the new Administrative Judge; Judge Greene, the author of Clearing a Path to Justice, a report detailing the needs of self-represented litigants; and Judge North, the circuit court judicial committee member, will hopefully make a difference in encouraging the continued pro bono work by Anne Arundel attorneys. Judge Caroom announced a plan for solicitation of AABA member pro bono stories for publication in the Barrister.
It was great that Patty Stephenson, President of the Inns of Court, could attend. The Inns of Court through the coordination of Patty and Judge Silkworth has been helping to get the word on pro bono service out to their members through Chambers Chats and time from Inns of Court programs to mention pro bono.
Fran Czajka, Executive Director of the Anne Arundel Bar Association, represented the Bar Association. Doug Hofstedt and Nancy Faulkner of Court Administration and Kim Doan, Erin McCarthy, and Courtnee Hill-Jones of the Office Case Management and Julie Shenk of the law library provided a good court contingency.
It is an unfortunate fact that Anne Arundel County ranked last in the state for reporting 50 or more hours of pro bono service for the year reported in November of 2012. As of the November 2013 report Anne Arundel has moved back to fourth from the bottom. An improvement but not a great improvement. This fact brought about a number of conversations between the court and the bar at the lunch. It is hoped that those conversations will continue and that there will be success in changing the culture of the Anne Arundel Bar in regard to pro bono service.
The service of the following is appreciated by the court and especially by those who received legal assistance:
Ask A Lawyer and Homeless Resource Day
Tasnima Apol
Judson Arnold
Anita Bailey
William Bainbridge
Chris Boucher
Jeff Bowman
Eugene Brennan
Andrew DiBlasio
Kari Fawcett
Alan Forman
Joseph Gormely
Kemp Hammond
Dallas Houston
Kathy Hughes
Jesse Iliff
Mary Jordan
Margaret Leonard
Scott MacMullan
Lisa Mannisi
Michael Marinello
DenisO’Connell
L. CliftonO’Connor
Allen J.Paltell Jr.
Michael J.Ragland Sr.
Richard Ronay
Kurt Roper
James Sauer
Amy Siegel
Ginina Stevenson
Michael J.Valadez
NathanVolke
Seth Zirkle
Court Facilitor and Foreclosure Programs
Marc Baer
Christina Bayne
Jennifer Baldwin
Christopher Beard
Todd Bennett
Leslie Billman
Raymond Carignan
Nicholas Capousis
Jeremiah Chiappelli
Tom Codd
Carol Craig
Penelope Dart
Tom Fleckenstein
Jonathan Gladstone
John Haislip
Susanne Henley
Maria Krapf
Stephen Krohn
Allen Kruger
Angela Magruder
Michael Malone
Ron Marryott
Susan Mays
Robert McFarland
Dawn Merino
Bill Mitchell
Todd Mohink
Chip Obrecht
Rick Obrecht
Donna Schaeffer
Kevin Schaeffer
Laura Shanley
David Simison
Susan Stauffer
Barbara Taylor
Robert Waldman
Harrison Wetherill
Mike Wilsman
Susan Wycoff
Kari Fawcett
Allen J. Paltell Jr.
James Sauer
Rebecca Bleecker
Scottie Reid
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
Frank Campbell
Andrew Cooch
Chris Flohr
Garland Hall
Bernard Kennedy
Joseph Laumann
David Martino
Timothy Mummert
Stacey Rogan
Wendy Schieke
M. Clare Schuller
Robert Smith
Jim Vidmar
Marla Zide
Allen J. Paltell Jr.
James Sauer
Susan Mays
Jonathan Gladstone
The following books were donated to the law library by the Office of Case Management so that they would be more accessible to those who might benefit from them. They are shelved with the library’s self-help collection located in the aisle that leads to the Family Law Self-Help Center. They were purchased with support money from the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation & Conflict Resolution Office.
- Principles of Alternative Dispute Resolution 2nd ed. / Stephen J. Ware (West, 2007). (ADR KF 9084 .W7 2007)
- Renegotiating Family Relationships: Divorce, Child Custody, and Mediation 2nd ed. / Robert E. Emery (Guilford Press, 2012). (ADR HQ 834 .E48 2012)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Conflict Diagnosis Approach / Laurie S. Coltri (Prentice Hall, 2010). (ADR K 2390 .C655 2010)
- Dispute Resolution: Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration, and Other Processes 6th ed. / Stephen B. Goldberg & Frank E.A. Sander (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2012). (ADR KF 9084 .G65 2012)
- Family Mediation: Contemporary Issues / Howard H. Irving & Michael Benjamin (Sage Publications, 1995). (ADR HQ 10.5 .N7 I78 1995)
- A Guide to Divorce Mediation: How to Reach a Fair, Legal Settlement at a Fraction of the Cost / Gary J. Friedman & Jack Himmelstein (Workman Pub., 1993). (ADR KF 535 .Z9 F68 1993)Mediation: Principles and Practice / Kimberlee K. Kovach (West, 2004). (ADR KF 9084 .K68 2004)The Foreclosure Mediation Training Guide / Victoria Ring ( Graphico Pub., 2007). (ADR KF 697 .F6 R56 2007)
- The Mediation Process: Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict 3rd ed. / Christopher W. Moore (Jossey-Bass, 2003). (ADR HM 1126 .M667 2003)
- The Handbook of Family Dispute Resolution: Mediation Theory and Practice / Alison Taylor (Jossey-Bass, 2002). (ADR HQ 10 .T28 2002)
- Essentials of Alternative Dispute Resolution 2nd ed. / Susan R. Patterson & D. Grant Seabolt, Jr. (Pearson Publications Co., 2001). (ADR KF 9084 .P47 2001)
- Stop Fighting Over the Kids : Resolving Day-To-Day Custody Conflict in Divorce Situations 1st ed. / Mike Mastracci (Saint Gabriel’s Press, 2009). (ADR HQ 834 .M7 2009)
- The Practice of Mediation: A Video-Integrated Text 2nd ed. / Douglas N. Frenkel & James H. Stark (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2012). (ADR KF 9084 .F746 2012)
- Foreclosure Nation: Mortgaging the American Dream / Shari Olefson (Prometheus Books, 2009). (ADR HD 255 .O44 2009)
- Help! I’m facing Foreclosure: What Are My Options? / William Tyler (PublishAmerica, 2009). (ADR KF 697 .F6 .T4 2009)
- Coping with the Foreclosure Crisis : State and Local Efforts to Combat Foreclosures in Prince George’s County, Maryland (Government Printing Office , 2009). (ADR KF 697 .F6 .S6 2009)
Other titles in the law library shelved with the general collection include:
- Mediation: A Handbook for Maryland Lawyers / Honorable Daniel E. Klein, Honorable Kaye A. Allison & Perry F. Sekus, (MICPEL, 1999). (KFM1760.3.K54 1999)
- How Arbitration Works 6th ed. / Alan Miles Ruben, ed. (American Bar Association, Committee on ADR in Labor & Employment Law, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Washington, D.C., 2003). (KF3424.E53 2003)
- How Arbitration Works 6th ed.: 2010 Cumulative Supplement / Kenneth May, ed. (American Bar Association, Committee on ADR in Labor & Employment Law, 2010). (KF3424.E53 2010)
- The Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Guide / Betty J. Roth & Randall W. Wulff (West, 1997.) (KF9084.A93 1997)
- The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution / Margaret Jasper (Dobbs Ferry, NY : Oceana 2000). (KF9084.Z9 J37)
- Mediation in a Nut Shell 2nd ed. / Kimberlee K. Kovach (West, 2010). (KF9084.K68 2010)
- Mediation: Law, Policy & Practice / Sarah R. Cole & Craig A. McEwen (West, 2012). (KF9084.M44 2012)
There is also an AACPLL Wiki page, ADR -Alternative Dispute Resolution, with additionlal information.
The following was submitted to the AABA newsletter, the Barrister.
A report on the Local Pro Bono Committee should begin with an overview of the Committee’s purpose. The Local Pro Bono Committee is a separate entity from the AABA Pro Bono Committee and exists per Maryland Rule 16-902. The rule provides that the committee consist of a combination of judges, attorneys and the general public. The Committee is charged with working with legal services providers and pro bono referral organizations to develop a Local Pro Bono Action Plan to “promote pro bono legal service to meet the needs of persons of limited means in the county.” Kevin Shaeffer chaired the committee that wrote the plan in 2004. The Committee stopped meeting after a time. In 2010 interest in pro bono service sparked by AABA president Jonathan Kagan lead to the formal reconstitution of the Committee in July 2011. Through the work of the Committee and volunteer attorneys Anne Arundel County has established some good limited legal advice programs. The Committee must now concentrate on what can be done to increase pro bono representation in our county. (Anne Arundel is again last in the state in reporting pro bono hours.) The Committee has partnered with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service which acts as the Anne Arundel Pro Bono referral service. There are still more clients from Anne Arundel County in need of representation than there are Anne Arundel volunteers.
The 2013 year began with the Annual Pro Bono Recognition Lunch in January. Attorneys who volunteer in the “Ask a Lawyer” programs by providing services in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, at the North County Area Library of the Anne Arundel County Public Library system and at the Annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day were invited to lunch where they were thanked for their service and received certificates that detailed their pro bono hours for the year of 2012. Circuit court judges Hon. Nancy Davis-Loomis, Hon. Phillip Caroom, Hon. Ronald Silkworth, Hon. Alison Asti and Master Timothy Thurtle as well as Court Administrator, Doug Hofstedt, and Nancy Faulkner, Director of Court Operations attended to show their appreciation. The 38 volunteer “Ask a Lawyer” attorneys provided 206 hours of free legal advice to 445 clients in 2012.
The Annual Anne Arundel Homeless Resource Day was held on March 16 at Glen Burnie High School. Even though it was not held on the traditional last weekend of March, attendance was not affected. This was the 6th Annual Homeless Resource Day and the 5th in which Anne Arundel Attorneys have provided legal services. There were 14 volunteers this year who took on either a morning or afternoon shift. The volunteers consisted of a large contingent of Legal Aid Attorneys who have the experience needed to handle the issues facing many of the homeless. This year Anita Bailey, Margaret Leonard, Amy Siegel, and Kathy Hughes represented Legal Aid. Judson Arnold and Denis O’Connell who are with the Office of the Public Defender were able to help with criminal issues. They performed 2 intakes for representation. The varied experience of private practice attorneys is always needed and appreciated. This year Make Valadez, Tasnima Apol, Jim Sauer, Kari Fawcett, Gene Brennan, Scott MacMullan and Ginina Stevenson volunteered. Past experience had shown that there are usually more clients in the morning but this year the afternoon seemed just as busy. There were 88 participants in all who used the legal services this year to find answers to 95 legal questions. While this was a small increase over last year, in 2009, the first year, there were only 4 attorneys who helped 50 clients. The majority of those are seeking assistance with expungement or family law. Representatives from the Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP), Atonia Fasanelli and Katie Scott provided support with expungement issues at the event and provided training for volunteers beforehand. Of the 31 asking for assistance with expungement, there were 4 referrals to HPRP and only 3 that actually met the qualifications for filing. This year we had additional assistance from the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Executive Director, Bonnie Sullivan and Sally Snowberger, the Foreclosure Prevention Housing Counselor, were able to provide assistance and perform intakes for the 7 who qualified. The Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day was the first Homeless Day in Maryland and is being used as a model across the state at the request of Governor O’Malley.
In order to share ideas for the promotion of pro bono service the Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Pro Bono Service held a regional meeting on March 18 for the Local Pro Bono Committees of Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick and HowardCounties. Although it was held in March just two days before the start of spring, the winter-like weather made travel to HowardCounty difficult. Still, most all who responded made it to the meeting. Attending from Anne Arundel County were Joanie Bellistri, Law Librarian and Chair; Anita Bailey, Lisa Sarro, and Sarah Frush of the Legal Aid Bureau; Judge North and Judge Silkworth from the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court; Chris Poulsen, Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services Program Manager; Scott MacMullan representing the Anne Arundel County MSBA Young Lawyers Section and Elizabeth Morris of the Office of the Attorney General. The program involved a number of guided, small group discussions on topics such as the pro bono referral process, volunteer recruitment and retention, collaborating with the bench, and client needs v. volunteer interest and expertise. Each group was created by assigned dinner seating so that there was a good mix based on location and background at each table for the discussion. Group findings were reported to the larger group and all seemed to touch on the same basic points no matter the topic. In brief, it was found that there is a need for full representation, especially in family law cases, that is not being met. Pro bono service needs to become a part of the local bar’s culture. Methods for encouraging increased pro bono participation included recognition of volunteers through awards programs, special treatment in the court room or free photocopies, and thank you letters from the bench; support of volunteers with training, mentoring and case costs; and awareness of legal service programs that will place volunteer attorneys and programs that provide referrals for those in need of the services. The evening ended with a meeting of each county’s representatives to discuss their county’s needs and to plan for that county’s pro bono activities. As a result you should see renewed efforts to increase pro bono participation in Anne Arundel County. Right now, please consider giving pro bono service a try. If every attorney in Anne Arundel would agree to take just one pro bono case, we could see a big improvement in the lives of those facing legal problems without assistance and an increase in Anne Arundel’s reported pro bono hours.
Please contact the Local Pro Bono Committee with any questions, ideas, suggestions or to join: 410-222-1387 or library@circuitcourt.org.
It is important to celebrate the attorneys who provide pro bono service in Anne Arundel County. Attorneys take cases through MVLS, participate in the Foreclosure Pro Bono Prevention Project, provide limited legal advice at the annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day and at Ask a Lawyer in the Library programs. Attorneys provide pro bono service through formal programs and others provide pro bono service independently. Posters of pro bono volunteers have been displayed in the law library this week and have been added here. They are representative of the many pro bono opportunities in which Anne Arundel attorneys participate.
The Anne Arundel Local Pro Bono Committee wishes to recognize and thank all of the Anne Arundel County attorneys providing pro bono service.
This year for the National Pro Bono Week Celebration, October 21- 27, 2012 the Anne Arundel County Local Pro Bono Committee seeks to encourage pro bono representation by Anne Arundel County attorneys. The campaign to increase the numbers of pro bono volunteers began with a blast email sent to all members of the AABA. The text of that email follows:
Pro Bono Week News from the Local Pro Bono Committee
The National Pro Bono Celebration focuses the nation’s attention on the increased need for pro bono services during these challenging economic times and celebrates the outstanding work of lawyers who volunteer their services throughout the year. The Anne Arundel County Local Pro Bono Committee is calling on all Anne Arundel attorneys to provide pro bono service. We know the need is great and that more attorneys from our county are needed.
A Word from the Bench:
I represent the Circuit Court on the Anne Arundel County Local Pro Bono Committee. I am a strong advocate for local attorneys volunteering their time to represent litigants who cannot afford counsel. In my experience, there is now an even greater need for volunteer lawyers than there has been in the past. I have seen Plaintiffs come into court without any witnesses and state they do not want to call themselves as a witness either. In that event, there is no evidence. In some cases, if the Plaintiff, himself, is encouraged to take the stand, the litigant will often just sit there, in the witness box, not saying a word without any knowledge of what his or her burden of production is. This results in unjust and inequitable results.
Through my participation in the Pro Bono Committee, I learned that in 2009 Anne Arundel County ranked last in the state in the number of lawyers who provided 50 or more hours of pro bono service. Anne Arundel has since moved to the twentieth position. But why not make Anne Arundel County come in first in the number of lawyers who volunteer? Please consider donating your time and expertise to such a worthy cause.
Judge Pamela L. North
Opportunities:
● The Anne Arundel County Local Pro Bono Committee has partnered with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) for the placement of Anne Arundel County residents in need of pro bono representation. The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service reports that many cases needing representation in Anne Arundel county are taken by attorneys from other counties. It is easy to add your name to the MVLS roster. Just visit the volunteer page on the MVLS website and simply fill out the online form. MVLS supports its volunteers with malpractice insurance, mentors, free training, use of their offices to meet with clients and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
● The Foreclosure crisis continues to affect our state with Anne Arundel County ranking fifth in the state in the number of foreclosures. The Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project needs volunteer attorneys to help. Volunteers receive free training and are asked to provide two homeowners pro bono representation in their foreclosure cases and/or provide pro bono representation to one homeowner and volunteer at one foreclosure solutions workshop where homeowners receive free legal advice. The Project provides access to malpractice insurance and mentoring support.
Anne Arundel County Attorneys are invited to attend the newly developed program on Foreclosure Mediation on November 2. Since the basic training is a prerequisite you will be asked to view the webcast of the basic program for background. Your invitation follows:
Pro Bono Resource Center and Civil Justice are pleased to offer the below pro bono training program, A Practical Guide for Representing Homeowners at Foreclosure Mediation, as part of Maryland’s Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project. Since the Maryland foreclosure mediation program took effect in July 2010, we have learned a lot about how to achieve positive outcomes through mediation and we want to share our tips and strategies with you. This training program is designed for existing Project volunteers who have already taken the Project’s basic training course. If you have not yet taken the basic training course, please contact Annie Brinkmann of Pro Bono Resource Center to gain access to the webcast of the basic course (443-703-3050 or abrinkmann@probonomd.org).
Friday, November 2, 2012, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law – ROOM 205
500 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-1786
To register, please visit www.probonomd.org/foreclosure-prevention-training.
Questions? Please contact Annie Brinkmann at 443-703-3050 or abrinkmann@probonomd.org.
If you are interested in participating but cannot attend on November 2, please complete the registration process indicating that you would like to receive the webcast of this training once it becomes available.
● For those who prefer to donate to a worthy organization, the local committee suggests that donations be made to the Anne Arundel Legal Aid Bureau through AAcares.org.
Celebrate Pro Bono Week:
You can find out more about pro bono opportunities for Anne Arundel attorneys at the AACPLL Self Help and Pro Bono WIKI. Posters of Anne Arundel Pro Bono Volunteers will be on display in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library during Pro Bono Week. Visit the library to see what other Anne Arundel attorneys have done to volunteer and to add your name to the roster of those “doing good.” (There will be chocolate.)
Please make the Local Pro Bono Committee’s campaign to increase pro bono service a success as we celebrate Pro Bono week this year Volunteer now!
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals has published “A Guide for Self-Representation: Maryland Court of Special Appeals.” The library has added copies as part of the library collection (KFM1755.G85 2012) and has copies available for distribution. The manual is also available online: http://mdcourts.gov/cosappeals/pdfs/cosaguideselfrepresentation.pdf
Categories
Kinship Care Resources
“Informal kinship care” means a living arrangement in which a relative of a child, who is not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the local department of social services, provides for the care and custody of the child due to a serious family hardship. (Md. EDUCATION Code Ann. §4-122.1 and Md. HEALTH GENERAL Code Ann. §20-105)
A new page on the topic of kinship care has been added to the AACPLL Self Help and Pro Bono WIKI . Here you will find links to Maryland code sections and COMAR as well as information provided by various agencies. The forms and information sheet handout available in the Anne Arundel County Family Self Help Center are also included.
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 