Childrens Law Center Incorporated

CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER WORKS TO GIVE EVERY CHILD IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA A SOLID FOUNDATION OF FAMILY, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM - CLC'S ATTORNEYS ARE APPOINTED BY JUDGES WITHIN THE DC SUPERIOR COURT TO BE THE VOICE FOR DC'S ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. CLC FIGHTS SO THAT EVERY CHILD THEY MEET IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM HAS A SAFE, LOVING HOME. CLC DOESN'T STOP THERE; CLC ALSO ADVOCATES WITH JUDGES, SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOLS, AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO MEET EACH CHILD'S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS TO HELP THEM RECOVER FROM TRAUMA AND PUT THEM ON A BRIGHTER PATH.

HEALTHY TOGETHER - ALL PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY. SOMETIMES, POOR HEALTH CANNOT BE SOLVED BY MEDICINE ALONE BUT REQUIRES LEGAL ADVOCACY TO FIX UNSAFE HOUSING OR SECURE THE APPROPRIATE CARE A CHILD NEEDS. CLC PARTNERS WITH CHILDREN'S NATIONAL, MARY'S CENTER AND UNITY HEALTH CARE TO PUT CLC'S LAWYERS SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH PEDIATRICIANS IN HEALTH CLINICS ACROSS THE DISTRICT - WHERE THEY FIND AND FIX THE ROOT CAUSES OF CHILDREN'S POOR HEALTH. CLC ALSO FIGHTS SO CHILDREN CAN GET THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THEY NEED TO RECOVER FROM TRAUMA.

SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY - CLC'S POLICY ADVOCACY IS GROUNDED IN THE EXPERIENCE CLC HAS GAINED HELPING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DISTRICT CHILDREN SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1996. CLC OFFERS CITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS TO THE MAYOR, DISTRICT AGENCIES AND THE DC COUNCIL TO BETTER SERVE LOW-INCOME CHILDREN. CLC WORKS TO IMPROVE LAWS, POLICIES AND PRACTICE AND ALSO SECURE MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT THE DISTRICT'S SUCCESSES AND FAILURES IN MEETING CHILDREN'S NEEDS. WHETHER IT IS ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HISTORIC SPECIAL EDUCATION REFORMS, PRESSING AGENCIES TO BETTER PREPARE OLDER YOUTH WHO AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE OR IMPROVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WITHIN DC SCHOOLS CLC'S POLICY ADVOCACY DELIVERS REAL RESULTS THAT HAVE IMPROVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN'S LIVES.

PRO BONO - ALTHOUGH CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER IS THE LARGEST CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER IN DC, MANY MORE CHILDREN COME TO US THAN OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS CAN REPRESENT. OUR PRO BONO TEAM PLACES CHILDREN, PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN NEED OF LEGAL SERVICES WITH MORE THAN 500 PRO BONOATTORNEYS EVERY YEAR. PRO BONO LAWYERS FIND SUCCESS WITH OUR CASES REGARDLESS OF EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE INTAKES AND OUR COMMITMENT TO HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING AND MENTORING. THE PRO BONO TEAM ALSO INCLUDES A TEAM OF LAWYERS WHO HELP CHILDREN CAUGHT IN BITTER PARENTAL DISPUTES, SHIELDING THEM FROM CONFLICT AND HELPING FAMILIES AGREE ON A PLAN TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING. AND, WHEN PARENTS CAN NO LONGER SAFELY CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, CLC HELPS GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER CARING ADULTS WHO STEP UP TO GIVE THEM A HOME, WHETHER THROUGH ADOPTION, CUSTODY OR GUARDIANSHIP.