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 Child, Youth & Families Advocacy 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 Services
We help families finalize adoptions and access benefits, assist unrepresented litigants with probate guardianships, and support families at risk of separation due to deportation in planning for their children’s care. We also help families navigate child protective services to avoid separation, and work with system-impacted youth on legal issues that create barriers to stability.
2
Policy Advocacy
We advance policies at the local, state, and national levels to end unnecessary family separation, expand access to public benefits for children impacted by the child welfare system, and ensure that young people aging out of foster care have access to housing and other benefits they need to thrive.
3
Community Education
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
Popular Resources
FAQsGuide
02/10/26
Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business
This Know Your Rights guide explains California child care providers’ legal authority to control access to their facilities, including who may enter, when recording is prohibited, and how to respond…
Learn MoreGuide
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…
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