How does it work?
At each Roundtable session, First Star’s national network of child welfare experts provide Members of the Roundtable with guidance and feedback on policy areas selected by the First Star Policy Advisory Committee.

Current key issues include:
•  A Child’s Right to Counsel: Ensuring that children have a trained lawyer to represent them during abuse, neglect and dependency court hearings. Although CAPTA provisions call for states to provide individuals representing children with “training appropriate to the role,” the de facto definition of appropriate varies widely by jurisdiction.

•  Confidentiality and System Accountability: Reversing the presumption of secrecy while preserving the judge's prerogative to impose it, with the priority of protecting the child. Currently, only 14 states have open courts (with judicial discretion to close).

What is the constituency served?
The Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that in 2005, an estimated 3.6 million reports alleging child abuse or neglect were investigated by State and local child protective services agencies.
• Approximately 899,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse or neglect.
• More than one million children are in foster care, homeless or institutionalized across the United States.

What are the benefits to Members, and ultimately to children?
•   Improved access to relevant information necessary to make the most effective and fair decisions on behalf of a child and his or her expressed and best interests;
•   Implementation of highest and best models and systemic structure in child protective services, family courts and foster care;
•   An enhanced network of child advocates, educators, legislators and media to promote the importance of multidisciplinary approaches that produce improved outcomes for children;
•    More children with the skills, well-being and capacity requisite to the development of a healthy and productive society.