About Us

How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied upon pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us to support clients, take on high-impact cases, and strengthen our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Resource Library

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

04/27/26

Know Your Rights: Immigration Enforcement in Public Spaces

We all have constitutional rights and state law protections in California, regardless of immigration status. This guide outlines those rights and protections and steps you can take to prepare in...

Learn More

Toolkit

04/03/26

Newcomer Student Education Rights

This toolkit is designed to inform advocates (attorneys and non-attorneys) about the education-related rights of newcomer and undocumented immigrant children, how to assert those rights, and what to do if...

Learn More

Guide

02/17/26

What is the Meeting of Creditors?

Once you file your bankruptcy, a Bankruptcy Trustee will be assigned to your case and a Meeting of Creditors will be scheduled. This guide will provide general information to help...

Learn More

How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied upon pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us to support clients, take on high-impact cases, and strengthen our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

04/27/26

Know Your Rights: Immigration Enforcement in Public Spaces

We all have constitutional rights and state law protections in California, regardless of immigration status. This guide outlines those rights and protections and steps you can take to prepare in...

Learn More

Toolkit

04/03/26

Newcomer Student Education Rights

This toolkit is designed to inform advocates (attorneys and non-attorneys) about the education-related rights of newcomer and undocumented immigrant children, how to assert those rights, and what to do if...

Learn More

Guide

02/17/26

What is the Meeting of Creditors?

Once you file your bankruptcy, a Bankruptcy Trustee will be assigned to your case and a Meeting of Creditors will be scheduled. This guide will provide general information to help...

Learn More

Child WelfareGuardianshipParental Rights

Guide

02/26/25

Creating a Family Plan: A Workbook for Immigrant Parents

Download as PDF

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, or immigration status – many factors may arise in our lives that can make it difficult to ensure a child’s well-being. There is an understandable fear in the undocumented immigrant communities that current immigration policies could fracture and break up families via deportation. This threat is made worse by the unexpected nature of deportation. Deportation can happen at any time and anywhere. We hope that no family is affected by deportation. However, it is important to have a plan for who will take care of your child in case of a deportation or other emergency. te

This workbook is aimed to help parents who are facing a possible deportation make a plan for the care of their minor children in the event of a separation. This workbook does not provide legal advice. Families facing separation may want to talk with a lawyer about their specific situation.

––

Creando un plan familiar: manual para padres inmigrantes

¿Quién cuidará de mi hijo si no puedo? Los padres se hacen esta pregunta cuando hay incertidumbre en sus vidas. Ya sea que esté relacionado con las finanzas, la salud mental o el estatus migratorio, pueden surgir muchos factores en nuestras vidas que pueden causar dificultad asegurar el bienestar de un niño. Existe un temor comprensible en las comunidades de inmigrantes indocumentados de que las políticas de inmigración actuales puedan fracturar y desintegrar a las familias a través de la deportación. Esta amenaza se ve agravada por la naturaleza inesperada de la deportación. La deportación puede ocurrir en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar. Esperamos que ninguna familia se vea afectada por la deportación. Sin embargo, es importante tener un plan sobre quién cuidará de su hijo en caso de deportación u otra emergencia.

Este cuaderno está diseñado para ayudar a padres que enfrentan una posible deportación a crear un plan para el cuidado de sus hijos menores en caso de separación. Este cuaderno no ofrece asesoría legal. Las familias que enfrentan una separación pueden querer consultar con un abogado sobre su situación específica.

Similar Resources

See All

Child WelfareEarly Care & EducationEducation

Report

01/28/26

Who Has The Power: Chronicling Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failures to Educate Incarcerated Youth

Los Angeles County officials often dismiss concerns raised by and on behalf of young people, claiming that the education-related issues for detained youth are not systemic. This report seeks to...

Learn More

Guardianship

GuideToolkit

01/24/26

Ensuring Family Connection: A Guide to Representing Parents in Probate Guardianships

Probate guardianships are often treated as private custody disputes, yet in practice they can resemble quasi-dependency cases—with serious and lasting consequences for parents, including suspension of parental rights and loss...

Learn More

Child WelfareImmigrants' RightsParental Rights

Guide

09/07/25

Creando un plan familiar: manual para padres inmigrantes

¿Quién cuidará de mi hijo si no puedo? Los padres se hacen esta pregunta cuando hay incertidumbre en sus vidas. Ya sea que esté relacionado con las finanzas, la salud...

Learn More