Legal Counsel For Youth And Children

LEGAL COUNSEL FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN (LCYC) PROTECTS THE INTERESTS AND SAFETY OF YOUTH IN WASHINGTON BY ADVANCING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION THROUGH DIRECT REPRESENTATION, STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY. OUR FOUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE: CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE COURT, IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. LCYC WAS CREATED, AND HAS CONTINUED TO EVOLVE, IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SERVICE GAPS, INCREASING LEGAL LITERACY AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON. WE PROVIDE YOUTH-CENTERED, COMMUNITY-BASED, HOLISTIC LEGAL ADVOCACY TO HUNDREDS OF YOUTH ANNUALLY. MOST ARE BETWEEN 12 -24 YEARS IN AGE. DUE TO RACISM AND OPPRESSION, YOUTH OF COLOR AND LGBTQ+ YOUTH ARE OVERREPRESENTED WITHIN THE SYSTEMS THAT LCYC WORKS AND AMONG THE YOUTH REPRESENTED BY LCYC. WE APPLY LESSONS LEARNED FROM YOUNG PEOPLE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND DIRECT SERVICES TO INFORM OUR SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY WORK.

CHILD WELFARE:LCYC HAS REPRESENTED ALMOST 550 YOUTH IN CHILD WELFARE CASES IN KING COUNTY, RANGING IN AGE FROM 1 TO 21 YEARS; MOST YOUTH SERVED ARE 12 YEARS AND OLDER. LCYC'S LOW CASELOADS, AND YOUTH CENTERED SERVICE MODEL POSITIVELY AFFECTS THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. LCYC PROVIDES PROACTIVE ADVOCACY AROUND ISSUES LIKE PLACEMENT, FAMILY VISITATION, PERMANENCY PLANNING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. LCYC PROVIDES PROACTIVE ADVOCACY, ENGAGING WITH CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS, SCHOOLS, FAMILY, SERVICES PROVIDERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. WE STRIVE NOT ONLY TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS AND RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, BUT WE LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE. WE FOLLOW THE CHILD'S STATED GOALS, BUILD SUPPORT AROUND THESE GOALS, AND HELP OUR YOUTH CLIENTS TO REALIZE LONG-TERM STABILITY, POSITIVE CONNECTIONS, AND SCHOOL SUCCESS. IN ADDITION TO LOW CASELOADS, LCYC'S MODEL IS GROUNDED IN A STRONG COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE. LCYC ATTORNEYS ENGAGE IN MONTHLY ALL-STAFF MEETINGS, REGULAR SUPERVISION AND CASE MANAGEMENT, AND IN-HOUSE TRAININGS ON LEGAL ISSUES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. WE ROUTINELY COME TOGETHER TO PROBLEM SOLVE ON INDIVIDUAL MATTERS AND TO IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO ENGAGE WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY ON LARGER ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND TRAININGS FOCUSED ON CHILDREN'S REPRESENTATION, PREPARING ADOLESCENTS FOR INDEPENDENCE, EXTENDED FOSTER CARE, AND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. LCYC IS RAISING AWARENESS OF CHILDREN'S LEGAL RIGHTS AND THE ROLE OF COUNSEL IN PROTECTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. OUR UNIQUE POSITION IN THIS POSITIVE MOVEMENT FORWARD IS THROUGH THE EXAMPLE WE SET IN OUR ADVOCACY, THE TRAININGS WE HELP PLAN AND PROVIDE FOR CHILDREN'S ATTORNEYS AROUND THE STATE, AND THE DATA WE COLLECT AND SHARE REGARDING LEGAL SERVICES AND RESULTS.

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM:IN 2017, THE HOMELESS YOUTH LEGAL NETWORK OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION NAMED LCYC ONE OF TWELVE MODEL PROGRAMS NATIONALLY PROVIDING QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO YOUTH STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS. THE SUCCESS OF LCYC'S MODEL RESTS LARGELY ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SHELTERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, JUVENILE COURT PROFESSIONALS, AND SCHOOLS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES PEOPLE 12-24 YEARS OLD AND EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN KING COUNTY. THIS INCLUDES YOUTH PLACED OUT OF COUNTY, BUT WITH PLANS TO EXIT INTO KING COUNTY. SERVICES PROVIDED MAY INCLUDE LEGAL ADVICE, MEDIATION OR NEGOTIATION, AND IN-COURT ADVOCACY. WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH A NUMBER OF CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, EMANCIPATION, GENDER MARKER AND NAME CHANGES, IDENTITY THEFT, LANDLORD/TENANT ISSUES, PUBLIC BENEFITS, CONSUMER AND MEDICAL DEBT, FAMILY LAW, WARRANTS, IMMIGRATION, AND ORDERS OF PROTECTION. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY MEMCONSULTANTS LLC FOUND THAT "LCYC'S LEGAL ADVOCACY HAD AN IMMEDIATE, POSITIVE IMPACT ON CLIENTS...65% CLIENTS REPORTED SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING AFTER WORKING WITH AN LCYC ATTORNEY, COMPARED TO 39% AT INTAKE. LCYC ADVOCACY IMPROVED HOUSING STABILITY FOR 70% OF MINORS SERVED."

JUVENILE COURT. LCYC PROVIDES PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A JUVENILE OFFENSE. LCYC ADVISES AND ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC CHARGES AGAINST THE YOUTH, WHILE ALSO OFFERING ADVOCACY AROUND ISSUES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, ACCESS TO BENEFITS, AND SAFETY AT HOME. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SERVICES, LCYC COLLABORATES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LOCAL PUBLIC DEFENSE, AND OTHER LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS ON SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY INITIATIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, LCYC SUPPORTED THE PASSAGE OF LOCAL POLICIES ENSURING YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO AN ATTORNEY WHEN BEING ASKED TO WAIVE THEIR MIRANDA RIGHTS. AS A RESULT, LCYC IS ONE OF SEVERAL LEGAL SERVICE ENTITIES THAT IS PROVIDING ON-CALL LEGAL ADVICE TO YOUTH ACROSS WASHINGTON WHO ARE PLACED UNDER ARREST, BEFORE THEY WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO SILENCE.