Nationally, 31.2% of children ages 14 to 17 in the foster care system are forced to live in an institution or group facility (also known as congregate care) instead of with a family, putting children at severe risk of dangerous and tragic outcomes. In New Hampshire, the number of institutionalized children is staggering: over 70% […]
As 2020 draws to a close, our nation’s children—despite strides made over the last year to keep them safe—are still being harmed in the very child welfare systems meant to protect them. We keep relearning the same lesson: the state is not a good parent, and it cannot effectively substitute a parent-child bond with a […]
Thank you to everyone who joined us last night to support Children’s Rights at our gala benefit. While this year COVID-19 changed where and how we celebrated, 358 of our big-hearted supporters joined us from across the nation. As our fabulous emcee Jordan Roth put it: Remember hope? Thanks to you, it’s back! We’re proud to […]
As 2020 draws to a close in the midst of a global pandemic, economic upheaval, social unrest and a national awakening to the pervasiveness of systemic racism, we talked with Anne Robinson, General Counsel at Vanguard, CR board member and co-chair of this year’s Children’s Rights gala benefit. What are your feelings as a Black […]
The child welfare system is expansive, sometimes overbearing, and uniquely complex in the outcomes it can deliver. Equally as complex are the young people that enter and exit and the lives they choose to lead. Many of us take on roles working to improve the lives of other vulnerable populations whether they are in the […]
Public discourse in this election year has largely ignored the plight of our nation’s children. Debates and position platforms have glossed over what the COVID-19 pandemic has meant for their stability and well-being. And despite a new study released last week finding that poverty has grown by six million people in the past three months, […]
Join us and our lineup of celebrities and child advocates on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 PM EST, to learn how we can create #1Nation4Children. Don’t miss out on an evening of gratitude, celebration, and fun to celebrate 25 years of fighting for kids. We will honor Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winner Cyndi Lauper in […]
In her recent opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee, now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett described her process for deciding cases: When I write an opinion resolving a case, I read every word from the perspective of the losing party. I ask myself how would I view the decision if one of my children was the […]
A Dangerous Combination Observations from our work We have seen how psychotropics harm children in various foster care systems when not carefully administered. For example, in Missouri, we got to know KC. She was 12 years old and placed in a large congregate care facility. She was prescribed five psychotropics. Our adult client, Kris, when […]
This year, we are truly honored to be recognized by the Impact Fund at their 2020 Gala: Truth to Power. For nearly 30 years this remarkable organization has made it possible for civil rights advocates to get to the very root of injustice and create transformative social change. In the case of our litigation in […]
