The Family And Youth Law Center: What Is It?

The Youth Law Center is a non-profit organization that advocates for the transformation of foster care and juvenile justice systems across the United States. It has been representing over 100, 000 children in New York City court proceedings since 1997, focusing on defending children’s rights. The organization is composed of 30 lawyers, paralegals, and social workers, and is appointed by the court to represent children in various legal disputes.

The Youth Law Center represents children in various categories, including Juvenile Delinquent, Juvenile Offender, and Adolescent Offender. They provide free legal representation, social work services, and mentoring to support parents and youth, primarily in Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Family Justice Centers provide criminal justice, civil legal, and social services for victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and sex trafficking.

Family Peer Advocates have “lived-experience” as the parent or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, or developmental issue. Family Legal Care, previously known as LIFT, combines legal guidance, easy-to-access technology, and compassionate support to help unrepresented parents and caregivers. A competent legal defense can make all the difference in family court cases where social workers’ reports can result in the permanent separation of parent and child.

The NYC Family Court Division is the second largest and only prosecutorial division at the Law Department, playing a critical role in promoting the well-being of the City’s children. The Youth Law Center works within child welfare, adoption, and juvenile justice systems to support positive outcomes. They offer advice and forms for civil law matters like family law, landlord-tenant issues, custody and visitation, employment issues, and small-claims court.

The Youth Law Center has been a thought leader in advocacy for children and youth in the nation’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems since 1978. They ensure that children have access to community-based services that allow them to live in their families and communities.

What Is Justice For Children?

Justice for children emphasizes the need for loving parenting and urgent support in the absence of family. It advocates for fair treatment and balanced access within foster care and juvenile justice systems, aiming to serve all children in their best interests, regardless of their circumstances. Each year, millions of children engage with these systems globally, often without receiving the fairness promised by judicial frameworks.

Advocacy efforts focus on training law enforcement and legal professionals in child-friendly and gender-sensitive practices, along with providing legal guidance and support to children navigating complex governmental systems meant to protect them.

Justice for Children (JFC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to child advocacy, offering legal and social services to abused children, particularly when the legal system fails to protect them. Children may come into contact with the justice system as victims, witnesses, or due to conflicts with the law. Maintaining access to justice is a fundamental right that should be upheld for all children, as highlighted by international standards like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

JFC's mission includes direct advocacy for child abuse victims, attorney training, and public education to ensure adherence to international norms. The organization envisions a comprehensive approach to foster children's development, empowering them and safeguarding their rights across justice systems.

What Is The Youth Law Center?

The Youth Law Center (YLC) is devoted to advocating for improved life quality and opportunities for youth in foster care and the juvenile justice system. Established in 1978, YLC aims to transform these systems nationwide so that every child can thrive. Their approach is rooted in legal expertise, research, and awareness of real-world issues. They focus on ensuring that youth exiting the child welfare or justice systems have essential supports, including housing, financial aid, parenting assistance, and healthcare.

They collaborate with organizations like Youth Villages, which provides specialized treatment and support for youth aged 6 to 17. YLC emphasizes amplifying youth voices and dismantling systemic inequities through litigation, policy advocacy, and research. By advocating for the rights, dignity, and opportunities of youth, particularly in California, YLC seeks to foster just policies and practices that prioritize youth welfare.

The center's mission includes direct services and support initiatives that empower young people to navigate their challenges and create positive community impacts. Through their ongoing work, YLC remains a critical resource for advocating change and advancing youth rights in various sectors, including education, health, and welfare.

What Does The Children'S Law Center (CLC) Do?

The Children’s Law Center (CLC), established in 1997 in Brooklyn, delivers passionate and effective legal representation to children in matters such as custody, visitation, domestic violence, guardianship, and paternity. CLC serves as a crucial resource, aiding over 100, 000 children throughout New York City in navigating complex legal disputes while ensuring their rights are vigorously safeguarded. This not-for-profit organization also provides free advocacy for foster care youth in Minnesota, alongside systemic reform initiatives aimed at improving legal outcomes for vulnerable populations.

The Children’s Law Center of California specializes in representing abused, neglected, or abandoned children within dependency courts and is the largest children's legal services organization in the region, employing nearly 600 professionals. These include lawyers skilled in mental health, human trafficking, juvenile justice, and education, who adopt a holistic approach to address the multifaceted needs of at-risk youth. The organization’s commitment extends to various states, with dedicated advocacy programs supporting children whose parents are involved in family court conflicts.

Recent leadership changes, including the appointment of Judge Liberty Aldrich as Executive Director, reflect CLC’s ongoing dedication to enhancing its mission of empowering children through effective legal representation.

Who Is The Children'S Law Center?

Since its establishment in 1997, The Children’s Law Center (CLC) has provided legal representation to over 100, 000 children in New York City, advocating for their rights in various court proceedings including custody, visitation, and domestic violence cases. Operating as a not-for-profit law firm, CLC's mission is to ensure that every child has a secure home environment and strong family connections. With a dedicated team of attorneys, paralegals, and social workers, CLC emphasizes listening to their clients, helping them understand their legal options, and passionately protecting their rights.

In addition to direct legal services, CLC collaborates with Child Advocacy Centers that offer supportive environments for child victims of abuse. The organization focuses on addressing significant barriers such as racism, trauma, and poverty to foster stable family conditions, access to quality education, and overall child health. As the primary institution in New York City for representing children in custody and visitation matters, CLC continually evolves its strategies to meet the needs of its clients and the community.

Their commitment also extends to supporting unrepresented parents through comprehensive resources and advocacy, ensuring that children can overcome challenges they face. Ultimately, CLC strives to create a brighter future for youth in New York.

What Does A Youth Part Judge Do?

Youth Part Judges, operating within Family Courts, oversee cases involving minors accused of offenses. When a case transitions from the Youth Part to Family Court, the child becomes a Juvenile Delinquent. The Raise the Age (RTA) legislation mandates police to inform parents or guardians upon the arrest of a juvenile or adolescent offender and established a category for 16-17-year-olds charged with felonies, termed Adolescent Offenders (AOs). Furthermore, RTA introduced Youth Parts in Supreme and County Courts to address AO and Juvenile Offender (JO) cases.

Juvenile Court Judges are specialized in managing cases involving individuals under 18. In Youth Parts, AOs are treated as adults, though the judge must consider the juvenile’s age during sentencing. Since juvenile courts do not feature juries, judges base their decisions solely on presented evidence. If Youth Part is unavailable, defendants are brought before a designated magistrate. Youth courts, which include peers aged 8-18, actively participate in judging and sentencing their contemporaries.

In the Youth Part, judges make critical decisions regarding release conditions, bail, and community supervision for defendants aged 13-17. Additionally, they ensure representation quality in juvenile cases, maintaining the importance of aiding youth through the justice process.

What Is The Family Court Division?

The Law Department's Family Court Division focuses on the safety and welfare of the community, addressing both victims and youth who may have caused harm. Its mission encompasses two main areas: Juvenile Justice and Interstate/International Child Support. As the second largest and sole prosecutorial division within the NYC Law Department, it plays a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of the city's children and families while ensuring public safety.

New York City's Family Courts, located in each of the five boroughs, handle matters related to child abuse and neglect, custody, adoption, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency, among others. Cases can generally be filed without a fee in the county where a party resides, and most hearings are overseen by judges. The Family Court also includes support magistrates for specific cases. Established by the Crime and Courts Act 2013, the Family Court merges family law functions previously held by county courts. The court's broad powers allow it to address varied issues affecting families, providing essential resources and guidance outlined in the Family Court Act for navigating these complex matters.