Children's Law Center of California

$1,270 raised by 14 donors

8% complete

$15,000 Goal

Children in foster care deserve a voice. CLC offers legal representation to over 28,000 abused and neglected children in Northern and Southern California foster care. Many of these children are survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. We are a powerful voice for our clients fighting for reunification, permanence, educational opportunity, health and mental health services, self-sufficiency and overall well-being. Your donation will positively impact the lives of children and teens in foster care.  

  • CLC attorneys conduct over 145,000 court appearances advocating on behalf of children in foster care each year
  • CLC investigators conduct over 24,000 independent investigations each year
  • CLC helps over 13,500 children reunify with family or become adopted each year
  • CLC has successfully sponsored over 60 pieces of child welfare related legislation since 2002



CLC continues to advocate for the protection, safety, and physical and emotional well-being of foster children across the state, including a focus on increasing positive outcomes for LGBTQ youth. CLC also recognizes that racial disproportionality and disparate outcomes exist in the child welfare system, particularly for African-American and Native American families. We seek to address these issues through increased education, stakeholder and community engagement, and policy and practice change.

Mission

Children’s Law Center of California (CLC) provides legal representation for children and youth impacted by abuse and neglect. We advocate for our clients by supporting families; fighting for reunification, permanence, educational opportunity, health, and mental health wellness; and empowering and strengthening children, families, and their communities. Our informed approach to advocacy makes us a powerful voice in local, statewide, and national child welfare system reform.

Needs

CLC attorneys represent over 25,000 children statewide. Additional funds would allow us to strengthen the following programs: Mental Health Team, Peer Advocacy Team, CSEC Case Managers, Transition Age Youth staff, Educational Advocates, Cross-over court specialists, and our Certified Child Welfare Law Specialists.

CLC is looking for board members from diverse backgrounds with strong ties to the African-American, Latino, and Native American communities with the ability to enhance our fundraising efforts.

To ensure the maximum level of youth engagement, CLC established a Peer Advocate program that employs former foster youth from diverse placement, educational, and cultural backgrounds. CLC's Peer Advocate program provides a forum in which current foster youth connect with their peers while gaining an understanding of how the California Fostering Connections to Success Act can help them successfully transition out of the foster care system as they gradually take on more responsibilities and gain more autonomy.

Funds are needed to provide each client with the opportunity to attend summer enrichment activities, including camps, dance classes, sports activities, and more!

Equity Statement

We believe in racial justice and equity in the child welfare system. Through our practice, we strive to dismantle structural racism and implicit and explicit bias that leads to disproportionality and disparate outcomes for Black and Native American families in child welfare. We work to remedy structural inequities for Black, Latino, Native American, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, those living in poverty, and other individuals and groups that have been traditionally unheard and historically devalued or excluded.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Children's Law Center of California

other names

CLC

Year Established

1990

Tax id (EIN)

95-4252143

Mission Category

Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy

Operating Budget

$10,000,001-$100 million

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Board Members

Local Counties Served

Placer, Sacramento

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

8950 Cal Center Dr. Suite 245
Sacramento, CA 95826

Service areas

Sacramento County, CA, US

Placer County, CA, US

Los Angeles County, CA, US

Phone

916-520-2003

fax

916-520-7650

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