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Our Programs
Foster Child Advocacy Project (FCAP)
FCAP pairs an attorney and social worker to provide legal
representation to children and youth in foster care. In the past
four years, FCAP has demonstrated that giving youth a voice in abuse
and neglect proceedings can increase the youth's confidence in the
outcome, and that advocacy for services canyeild positive
results.
Since 1997, this program has already provided representation for
500+ children.
- Nicole (13) lived in long-term foster care with the same
family because she could not be reunited with her abusive parents.
After eight years, the county resumed a search for relatives
interested in taking care of Nicole and planned to place her with
a relative in a distant county. Nicole was crushed - she
desperately wanted to stay with the foster family. With
representation from a CLC social worker and a volunteer attorney,
the court granted her request to remain with her foster parents.
- Derek (17) lived in foster care because his mother, who was an
alcoholic, abandoned him. Derek needed braces because his teeth
were so severely crooked, he had difficulty chewing. No one in the
foster care system had tried to get the dental care Derek needed.
CLC helped Derek apply for Medical Assistance to pay for his
braces. Medical Assistance denied his application. But, CLC helped
Derek appeal their decision, and Derek was able to get
braces.
State Wards Project
Beginning in 1999, CLC began working with Hennepin County
Juvenile Court to advocate for state wards, or children whose
parents' rights have been terminated. CLC staff represent the
child's wishes for his or her current situation.
CLC staff and volunteer attorneys have represented 105 state
wards. In addition, approximately 70 children are not part of a
permanent family through adoption, an order for long-term foster
care, or a transfer of guardianship.
- Andrea (12), a ward of the state, wanted to be adopted by a
family other than the family the county selected. Although
Andrea's guardian ad litem and her birth mother supported Andrea's
request, neither the county worker nor the court would agree to
the placement. With the help of CLC, Andrea's request to live with
the family she selected was granted.
Transitions: Moving towards Independent Living
Transitions is aCLC initiative that provides legal representation
and services to assist foster youth in a successful transition from
foster care to adulthood.
We work to identify young adults in transition, and then inform
them about possible educational benefits.We also collaborate with
local agencies that provide transitional living services for youth
and informing them about the law, and training social workers about
the law and services for transitioning youth. Finally, we provide
advocacy for transitioning youth, thus enabling them to successfully
transition to an independent lifestyle.
WHY DO KIDS NEED CLC?
- Foster children often go to court alone
- Kids need someone to stand up for them and represent them in
court.
- The legal system can be confusing to a child
- CLC helps kids in foster care understand their rights and help
them navigate the system.
- CLC gives kids a voice in court.
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I'm so impressed with what I've read about Minnesota
Children's Law Center. This is an example of what I talk about--of
bringing social workers together with lawyers and others concerned
with the interests of children to address the issues in a
comprehensive way.
-former United States
Attorney General Janet Reno |
