Message from Director of Legal Services

TeamChild’s legal assistants and attorneys are busy representing hundreds of youth across the state as we charge into 2022 with big challenges (COVID resurgence causing more school shut downs before students could even catch up; long delays in access to healthcare, particularly mental health treatment; rising referrals to juvenile court after some depression from during the pandemic). We continue to center youth and stand with them to find legal pathways to help them meet their goals in the community.

Some things to look for from us in 2022, include:

• Collaboration with impacted community, the Office of Civil Legal Aid, and several legal aid provider partners to implement strategies with COVID relief funding to address the educational needs of youth
• Increased legal representation for youth reentering the community after a period of incarceration at Juvenile Rehabilitation (prison) facilities through our expanded state funding awarded last year
• Appellate court litigation about school discipline laws and the rights of youth to return to their regular educational setting after a suspension ends and to due process of law if they are excluded from school

We appreciate your support and partnership in this work.