Children's Advocacy

Foster Children's Project
Established in 2001, this project provides each child in the foster care system between birth and age twelve, and their siblings, an attorney to represent them in all court matters and to advocate for them to achieve permanence within 12 months. The Foster Children's Project has recently been authorized to expand its representation to children age 0 to 5 placed with relatives.

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Juvenile Advocacy Project
This project provides representation to children through age 18 in Juvenile Court, Family Court and Probate Court. In addition, representation is provided before the School Board of Palm Beach County and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The majority of children served are emotionally, developmentally or physically challenged. The project's goal is to access appropriate treatment and/or placement for these children.

Relative Caregivers Project
This project provides legal advice and representation to adult caregivers who are caretakers for relative minor children (grandchildren, nephews, nieces). The services provided are designed to assist with the unique legal problems faced by relative caregivers raising minor children such as temporary legal custody, adoption, guardian advocacy, access to public benefits and health care, housing and children's educational needs.

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Education Advocacy Law Project
The Education Advocacy Law Project (EALP) provides advocacy and legal services to overcome barriers to public education for school-age children. EALP's focus includes:
  • Assisting children who have difficulty enrolling in school
  • Assuring that evaluations are provided to students who are in need of assessment to determine whether they are students with disabilities
  • Procuring additional services for students with disabilities who currently receive special education services, but continue to have academic, social, emotional or behavioral problems
  • Ensuring that students who have been removed from school involuntarily are readmitted to school, and
  • Enforcing the right to a free public education for homeless children and foster children under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
EALP also provides speakers to train parents and community organizations on students' legal rights under federal and state education laws. In partnership with the Palm Beach County School District and the Legal Aid Society's Pro Bono Project, EALP trains volunteer attorneys who provide free legal representation to children who are facing expulsion from the school system.