COVID-19 News and Resources

CAFL COVID-19 Resources Index

Recently Added:

Resources for Youth and Young Adults Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021

Updates From the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Court System Response to COVID-19: Provides links to Daily Court Updates and Orders of the Supreme Judicial Court, Appeals Court, District Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court and Land Court

Supreme Judicial Court updated order authorizing use of electronic signatures by attorneys and self-represented parties, effective June 11, 2020

Temporary Court Investigator and GAL Guidelines and Procedures, Administrative Office of the Juvenile Court, Updated June 1, 2020.

Letter from Judiciary Leaders on Path Forward During the Pandemic, May 14, 2020

Juvenile Court Standing Order 5-20, Protocol Governing Requests for Release From Detention, and Requests to Revise or Revoke or Stay Sentence, based on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Risks

Juvenile Court Frequently Asked Questions in Reference to COVID-19

COVID-19: Trial Court Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Resources

Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-20: Guardian ad litem evaluations, investigations, and reports in the Probate and Family Court in light of the COVID-19 Emergency, effective June 1, 2020

Message to the Bar from Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants, dated 3/19/2020

Procedures for Contacting Incarcerated Clients

Updates From CPCS

CPCS/CAFL Best Practices Guide for Conducting Video Hearings

Please note that this Guide is a work in progress.  Video hearings are new to many of us at CAFL.  We are learning more and more each week thanks to input from attorneys in the field as to what is happening in the courts, what is working, and what is not working.  We will amend this Guide as we get more and better information from practitioners.  Please feel free to send your comments and any proposed edits to Andy Cohen, Director of Appellate Panel, at acohen@publiccounsel.net.

Handout for Clients to Prepare for Zoom Hearings

MyGideon Instructions for CAFL Users

CPCS Immigration Impact Unit (IIU)

IIU Resources for CAFL Attorneys

CAFL Appeals Guidance on Appeals Court and SJC Scheduling Orders, Revised April 28, 2020

Checklists for Checking in With Your Child, Young Adult, and Parent Clients During the COVID-19 Crisis

Modifications to Client Contact Requirements for CAFL Trial Attorneys, updated 3/27/2020

Guidance on Client Contact for CAFL Appellate Attorneys

Annual Cap on Billable Hours

Guidance for Private CAFL Attorneys on Single Justice Petitions/Interlocutory Appeals

Message from CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti on the 57th Anniversary of the Supreme Court Decision Gideon v. Wainwright, dated 3/19/2020

Message from the CAFL Trial Panel Support Unit, dated 3/17/2020

Updates from DCF

DCF Agency Update, May 15, 2020 provides pre and post pandemic statistics

DCF COVID-19 Resources and Support

Updates to Substance Use Treatment Programs During the COVID-19 Outbreak, April 8, 2020

Interim Guidance on Medical Visits for Children in Care During COVID-19 Outbreak

Letter to DCF Families from Commissioner Linda S. Spears
Letter to DCF Families in Cape Verdean Creole
Letter to DCF Families in Chinese
Letter to DCF Families in Haitian Creole
Letter to DCF Families in Portuguese
Letter to DCF Families in Spanish

Information for Providing Foster Care as Massachusetts Manages COVID-19

DCF Interim Guidance for Support and Stabilization Providers

Training Information

CPCS CLE Requirement-Emergency Policy Change-FY 2020 Only

Due to exceptional circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 virus, CPCS is waiving the Continuing Legal Education hours requirement for all units for Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020.)  Although we have waived the CLE requirements, we encourage you to attend webinars that are relevant to your practice area to support your professional development.
You may still be paid for eight (8) hours of training if you meet the attendance and payment requirements. Additionally, Panel Directors may offer credit for webinars that are not sponsored by CPCS. Please see the following list of webinars that have been approved for CAFL credits and the CPCS Training Department Website: :https://www.publiccounsel.net/train/
We hope that we will be returning to offering in-person training soon and look forward to seeing you then.

Approved Webinars

To receive credit for an approved webinar download and send an attendance certificate, if one is available, or an e-mail with your BBO#, the title and date of the webinar and # of viewing hours to Rita Caso, rcaso@publiccounsel.net. If there is a webinar you would like to have approved for credit please send the link to cafltraining@publiccounsel.net. Thank you!

Other News

Advocating for Kinship Placement during the COVID-19 Pandemic,
Andrew Cohen and Cathy Krebs, American Bar Association

Shut Down DCF’s homeless pipeline,
Commonwealth, May 17, 2020

Boston Bar Association Guide to Virtual Hearings at the Boston Municipal Court and District Courts for Practitioners

Boston Bar Association Guide to Virtual Hearings For Practitioners in Housing Court

Boston Bar Association Guide to Virtual Hearings for
Practitioners in Probate Matters

Boston Bar Association Guide to Virtual Hearings for Family Law Practitioners

Resources from EdLaw and the Youth Advocacy Foundation

EdLaw: Know Your Rights: Education and Special Education in Light of COVID-19 School Closures

EdLaw: Know Your Rights: Education and Special Education in Light of COVID-19 School Closures: FAQ’s for Parents

Family Time Resources

Wellness Resources

Technology Resources

Community Resources

Child Welfare News From Around the Country