Changing Lives: Lawyers Fighting for Children

by Lourdes M. Rosado (Editor)

Overview

Changing Lives: Lawyers Fighting for Children demonstrates the critical role that attorneys play in changing the life courses of our most at-risk children. Without legal representation, the children profiled in this book likely would have gone down a path that was detrimental to their safety, their well-being, and ultimately their ability to grow into happy and successful adults.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781627225083
Publisher:	American Bar Association
Publication date:	04/07/2015
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Lourdes M. Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA., is the Associate Director at the Juvenile Law Center which she joined in 1998 after completing the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship in Juvenile Justice at Georgetown University Law Center. As a Prettyman Fellow, Ms. Rosado represented juveniles in delinquency proceedings in the District of Columbia Superior Court, and taught trial advocacy and criminal procedure to third-year law students.

Table of Contents

Children's Rights Litigation Committee vii

Acknowledgments ix

Author Biographies xi

Foreword xix

Introduction xxiii

Note xxvii

1 Fighting the Odds: Speaking for Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System Sbari F. Shink Diane Baird 1

Part I Grace's Story 1

Part II The Child Welfare System 6

Access to Family Services 10

Visitation 10

Quality of Foster Home Placement 11

Stability 11

Placing Siblings Together 13

When to Reject Reunification as an Option 13

Permanence 14

2 Letting Children Be Children: Advocating for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System Lourdes M. Rosado Candace Mitchell 19

Part I Marcus's Story 19

Part II Representing Youth in the Juvenile Justice System 22

3 Finding a New Home: Representing Children in Immigration Actions Gail Chang Bohr Fue Lo Thao Maisue Xiong 35

Part I Eniye's Story 35

Part II Representing Unaccompanied Alien Children 39

Overview 39

Human Trafficking Victims and T Visas 43

Crime Victims and U Visas 47

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 47

Asylum 48

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status 50

4 Staying on Track: Protecting Youth in School Discipline Actions Brent Pattison 53

Part I John's Story 53

Part II Advocating for Youth in School Discipline Matters 56

5 Setting the Record Straight: Child Advocacy and School Responses to Mental Health Rosa Hirji Jenny Chau 63

Part I Jesse's Story 63

Part II Schools, Special Education, and Mental Health Issues 72

6 A Matter of Survival: Representing Runaway and Homeless Youth Casey Trupin 79

Part I Sammy's Story 79

Part II Advocating for Homeless and Runaway Youth 82

Characteristics of Homeless and Runaway Youth 82

Options for Homeless and Runaway Youth 84

Current Role of the Federal Government 86

Advocacy Efforts for Systemic Reform 87

7 Getting Another Chance: Lawyering to Prevent Youth from Being Tried as Adults Lourdes M. Rosado Candace Mitchell 91

Part I Tina's story 91

Part II Preventing Youth from Being Tried as Adults 94

8 Keeping the Door Open: Representing Older Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care Franchesca L. Hamilton-Acker 107

Part I Caleb's Story 107

Part II The Foster Care System for Transitioning Foster Youth 112

9 Taking on the System: The Power of Children's Lawyers and Impact Litigation to Reform the Child Welfare System Ira Lustbader 123

Part I Mayas Story 123

Part II Gina's Story 129

Part III Accountability and Better Outcomes for Kids: Impact Litigation to Reform the Hidden Revictimization of Children in State Foster Care Systems 134

Index 143