December 13, 2019
2019: Protecting Kids. Providing Hope.
Thanks to supporters like you, 2019 was a year of continued success in transforming the lives of children. Children’s Rights is pleased to share key highlights from our year:
- 12,000 children in Texas foster care will now be protected from abuse and neglect. A federal judge has just ordered the state to immediately implement reforms to a foster care system where—in her words—“rape, abuse, psychotropic medication, and instability are the norm.”
- Children’s Rights continues to fight to secure protections for immigrant children separated from their parents; recently a judge cited our legal brief in ruling against a policy that would have allowed the indefinite detention of immigrant children.
- In Missouri, Children’s Rights’ historic lawsuit ended the common practice of administering powerful psychotropic medications to kids as young as 5 or 6, often as a means of behavior control. The case shows other states that reform is possible—and sends a message that inaction will not be tolerated.
- Children’s Rights is exposing the egregious mistreatment of youth in the juvenile justice system, including the use of solitary confinement and immobilizing restraints and shackles, and denying them the mental health care they need.
- In Georgia, Children’s Rights is fighting for the right of every child to receive an education. We filed a lawsuit alleging that Atlanta’s DeKalb County Jail, the largest in the state, is violating federal statutes by not offering special education services to youth between the ages of 17 to 21.
- After we learned that in Miami infants were lined up in cribs in baby shelters, and other children were forced to move from place to place 50, 60, 70 times, we took legal action that is already making conditions better for kids.
- Through our Interfaith Coalition for Children’s Rights, we are spearheading a national coalition to fight a wave of government policies that turn away foster parents who are Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, or LGBTQ because they do not conform to specific religious beliefs.
Children’s Rights never does this work alone. We thank our donors and partners for supporting our mission of protecting kids and providing hope in 2019 and beyond.
Sincerely,
Sandy Santana
Executive Director, Children’s Rights