ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN HANDBOOK-
Recently, the WV Alliance for Children issued its Guardian Ad-Litem Handbook for Foster Parents with the financial support from several entities, including a grant from the WV Bar Foundation. This beneficial publication will be distributed to organizations which train foster care parents, to all Circuit Court Judges for their use as a resource with local attorneys and placed on websites of groups involved in foster care for WV’s children. The Alliance’s Executive Director, Scott Boileau, reports that the National Family-Based Foster Treatment Association wishes to utilize the handbook, so “Your dollars may extend further than our state border.” Three Bar Foundation Fellows served on the Handbook Review Committee-Family Court Judge Mary Ellen Griffith (Mercer County) Jane Moran (Mingo County) and Catherine Munster (Harrison County).

2009-10 ANNUAL REPORT-
The Annual Report for the Bar Foundation’s most recent fiscal year of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 has been released. It includes the highlights of another successful year in working to improve the administration of justice and the provision of legal services to the State’s citizens. The achievements include increasing the total IOLTA grants to more than $13.8 million from 1990 to July 1, providing almost $75,000 in Bar Foundation grants in just the past five years,holding the first ever meeting with the WV Supreme Court of Appeals Justices and operation management in a fiscally prudent manner by the fifteen member Board of Directors. The complete Annual Report in on the website—wvbarfoundation.org—under Tinderbox.

2010-11 BAR FOUNDATION BUDGET-
The Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors, a diverse group of fifteen lawyers from all parts of the state and all types of law practice, continued its fiscally responsible actions by concluding the 2009-10 fiscal year in a slight positive position, even during these difficult economic times. For the current 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Board made numerous reductions in management and operations with the action by the Supreme Court to transfer IOLTA program administration to the State Bar, effective July 1, 2010, and the ongoing negotiations regarding the two Bar Foundation buildings in Charleston. Nevertheless, the budget is balanced and the necessary plans have been made for continuing activities in the upcoming months.