Children, Youth & Families
Strong, supported families create the foundation children and youth need to learn, grow, and thrive—shaping the future of our communities and nation.
Public Counsel advocates for the rights and dignity of children, youth, and families through direct legal representation, impact litigation, and community-led policy advocacy. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we work to remove legal barriers for children, youth, families, and communities impacted by systemic racism and economic injustice. By investing in families today, we help build stronger, more equitable communities for the future.
Our Areas of Expertise
Our Approach
Public Counsel’s Children, Youth & Families team advances equity and stability for children and families through comprehensive legal services and systems change advocacy. Our interdisciplinary team of attorneys, social workers, and advocates provides direct representation and works to address the underlying causes of family instability — particularly those rooted in structural racism and economic injustice. We center our clients’ lived experiences and strive to ensure that all our work is trauma-informed and resilience-focused.
1
Direct Holistic Services
We assist clients in the areas of adoptions, benefits, probate guardianships, and education. We help families at risk of separation due to deportation make a plan for the care of their children, and we help families navigate contact with child protective services so that they can avoid separation. We work with system-impacted youth on a variety of legal issues that create barriers to stability.
2
Policy Advocacy and Impact Litigation
We advance policies at the local, state, and national levels to end unnecessary family separation, expand access to public benefits, and dismantle punitive practices that criminalize students—particularly in low-income communities and communities of color. In partnership with Public Counsel’s Opportunity Under Law project, we pursue impact litigation to fix broken systems that harm children, youth, and families.
3
Community Education and Resources
We know that our clients are powerful self-advocates, so we engage in far-reaching outreach and community education. We regularly develop new know-your-rights materials as community needs shift, and provide trainings to clients and advocates alike.
Quick Stats
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Families Helped
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$X,XXX
Benefits Secured
Through our legal advocacy, we help families access critical public benefits
10,000
Adoptions Finalized
Since the launch of our Adoptions Project in 1997
The Latest
Popular Resources
Guide
02/26/25
Creating a Family Plan: A Workbook for Immigrant Parents
Who will take care of my child if I cannot? Parents ask themselves this question when there is uncertainty in their lives. Whether it be related to finances, mental health,…
Learn MoreGuide
06/18/24
Educación Especial y Servicios Relacionados: Abogando por Los Estudiantes con Discapacidades
Todos los estudiantes merecen aprender y prosperar en la escuela. Desafortunadamente, no todos los estudiantes reciben el apoyo y los servicios que necesitan para tener éxito academico. Aunque las leyes…
Learn MoreGuide
06/18/24
Special Education & Related Services: Advocating for Students with Disabilities
All students deserve to learn and thrive at school. Unfortunately, not all students receive the supports and services they need to succeed. Although federal and state laws set forth specific…
Learn MoreGet Help
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