He has been an attorney for hundreds of adoption and foster care cases, is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and serves on the Advisory Council of theCongressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Recently awarded “National Treasure Award” from Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center.
Mr. Schweitzer also provides legal consulting services to:
public and private child-serving
agencies in the areas of social welfare law and practice
privatization
public-private joint ventures
risk-management
practice standards
service delivery
confidentiality
Mr. Schweitzer represents charter schools in such matters as:
charter compliance
relations with education management organizations
compliance with federal and local law
He serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Charter School Center for Student Support Services.
Mr. Schweitzer is widely recognized for his expertise in several areas. Mr. Schweitzer frequently lectures to lawyers and child welfare professionals in his areas of expertise which include:
Confidentiality
Child Abuse and Neglect
Mandatory Reporting Laws
Testifying in Court
Adoption
Laws Pertaining to Children in General
Mr. Schweitzer is the co-author of Foster Care Law: A Primer (2004) available from Carolina Academic Press.
Harvey Schweitzer, a 1976 graduate of UCLA Law School, has been involved in child welfare and related issues since 1980 when he helped create the Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect Office at the D.C. Superior Court. Mr. Schweitzer engages in trial and appellate litigation. He is legal counsel to the (D.C.) Consortium for Child Welfare; a consultant to the (D.C.) Healthy Families/Thriving Communities Collaborative Council; and is an adjunct professor at Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America where he teaches juvenile law. He serves as the general counsel to Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, is of counsel to Savit & Szymkowicz, LLP, is a legal advisor to Catholic Community Services of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and provides advice and representation to many other nonprofit child serving agencies. He also represents social workers in licensing and disciplinary proceedings.
Mr. Schweitzer is admitted to practice law in D.C. and Maryland.
