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Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Award

The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Children and the Law each year presents the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare to recognize individuals who have done outstanding work to improve New York's child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Committee on Children and the Law  created the award in 1986. It is named for retired Court of Appeals Judge Howard A. Levine (Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP), who was the first chair of what was then called the Special Committee on Juvenile Justice. He has been and continues to be a strong proponent and leader in the effort to improve New York ’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Harriet R. Weinberger, Esq. (Director Office of Attorneys for Children) and Glenn R. Metsch-Ampel, Esq. (Deputy Executive Director Lawyers for Children) are the recipients of the 2013 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare sponsored by the New York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the Law.  Awards will be presented at a ceremony at the State Bar Center on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
 

2013 Award Recipients
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Harriet R. Weinberger, Esq.
Director
Office of Attorneys for Children
Appellate Division,
Second Judicial Department

Glenn R. Metsch-Ampel, Esq.
Deputy Executive Director
Lawyers for Children

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2013 Howard A. Levine Award Ceremony and Reception
Sponsored by the Committee on Children and the Law

Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Award

Nomination Information for 2014
Nomination Form 

The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Children and the Law each year presents the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare to recognize individuals who have done outstanding work to improve New York's child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Committee on Children and the Law is seeking nominations for the 2013 Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare. 

The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Children and the Law created the Howard A. Levine award in 1986. It is named for retired Court of Appeals Judge Howard A. Levine (Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP), who was the first chair of what was then called the Special Committee on Juvenile Justice. He has been and continues to be a strong proponent and leader in the effort to improve New York’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

The award recognizes the vital services of lawyers and non-lawyers who have done outstanding work to improve New York’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The winners are honored by the Association at an annual Spring reception at the New York State Bar Association State Bar Center in Albany. Nominees should be individuals who have a career history of distinguished and longstanding service in the field of juvenile justice and child welfare. Potential nominees can include lawyers, social workers, government officials, community advocates and New York State court personnel.

Past recipients include Senator Velmanette Montgomery (NYS Senate District 18), George E. Reed, Jr., Esq., Hon. Edward O. Spain (Appellate Division, Third Department), Prof. Meril Sobie, Margaret Burt, Prof. Jane Spinak, Mishi Faruqee, Prof. Sarah H. Ramsey Hon. Joseph M. Lauria (New York City Family Court), Hon. Sharon S. Townsend (Erie County Supreme Court), Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr., NYS Court of Appeals, Hon. Judith S. Kaye, retired Chief Judge, NYS Court of Appeals, and Matilda Cuomo, former First Lady of New York State.

Nominees must have worked in the area of juvenile justice and child welfare. The Nomination Form is posted below. Nominations should include a narrative describing the individual’s efforts to improve New York’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Supporting materials, such as letters in support or letters of reference, should be sent to the attention of the Committee on Children and the Law, New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207. References listed on the nomination form should be advised that their names have been submitted as all references should be willing to speak with the nominating committee. There is no limit to the number of nominations any one person may submit, and multiple individuals can nominate the same person for this award.

Completed nomination forms may be emailed to Katherine Suchocki, Staff Liaison, Committee on Children and the Law at ksuchocki@nysba.org or mailed to the following address:

New York State Bar Association
Committee on Children and the Law
One Elk Street
Albany, New York 12207

Download the Nomination Form

Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Nomination Form 

Nomination Form 

Click here to view photos from past ceremonies and lists of past recipients.

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Photos from the 2012 Award Ceremony and Reception

Photo (left to right):
Honorable Judith S. Claire, Honorable Howard A. Levine and Tamara A. Steckler, Esq.

Photos from the 2012 Award Ceremony

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Howard A. Levine Award Nomination Form 

Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Nomination Information 

View Prior Recipients

List of NYSBA Awards and Competitions

Nominations may be submitted via email to Katherine Suchocki, Staff Liaison to the Committee on Children and the Law at ksuchocki@nysba.org.

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Standards for Attorneys Representing Children

Standards for representing children were initially developed for a New York State Bar Association Law Guardian Study in 1984 (Law Guardians in New York  State: A Study of the Legal Representation of Children).  Subsequently, the Committee on Children and the Law  (formerly known as the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Committee) concluded that Bar Association adoption and distribution of the standards would prove beneficial to the bench and bar. The preparation of standards and commentaries represent an important aspect in improving representation, and in assisting the large number of attorneys who appear before the Family Court. 

Links to the revised and updated standards are listed below:

Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in New York (2011) (130 pages)

Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings (June 2009) 

Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Person in Need of Supervision Proceedings (June 2008) 

Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in Custody, Visitation and Guardianship Proceedings (June 2008)

Standards for Attorneys Representing Children in New York Child Protective, Foster Case, and Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings (June 2007) 

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NYSBA Committee on Children and the Law Child Support Pamphlet

Download a free copy of the Child Support Pamphlet 

To order copies of the NYSBA Child Support Pamphlet,  click here.

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For more information about the Committee on Children and the Law, contact Kathy Suchocki, Staff Liaison to the Committee at ksuchocki@nysba.org.