“Nothing could be worse than a return to normality,” writes political activist and award-winning author Arundhati Roy in her latest essay, ‘The Pandemic Is a Portal.’ “Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew.” As we continue grappling with the effects of COVID-19 and examining the systems embedded […]
Young people in and aging out of foster care have been hit hard by COVID-19. Under normal circumstances, these youth already face incredible odds, but under a pandemic, their chances of becoming unemployed, struggle to access food or other basics, or to become homeless increase exponentially. Due to the difficulties and trauma foster youth often […]
Atteeyah Hollie, senior attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights, honored as the ABA’s June Fearless Children’s Lawyer. Our litigation director, Ira Lustbader, interviews Atteeyah on her accomplishments and 2020 reflections.
Yesterday, a federal judge in South Carolina issued an opinion and order that is strongly in line with the policy changes that Children’s Rights has been urging to address the immediate health risks to children in group living situations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: it is impossible for children who share eating, sleeping, bathroom, educational and […]
This Pride Month marks the 50th anniversary of annual LGBTQ+ Pride traditions. But Pride 2020 differs from previous years – with celebrations canceled or moved to virtual space as people are forced to continue to social distance. For many LGBTQ+ young people involved in the child welfare system, this means they are living in unsupportive […]
After he learned of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in April of 1968, Robert Kennedy recited from memory this passage from Aeschylus: He spoke those words to unspool a thread of meaning and hope at another time of upheaval and despair in our nation. I’ve never forgotten them. I was sickened by that […]
Young people in and leaving foster care are still struggling during the pandemic with many unable to make ends meet. With the economy disrupted, many have lost their jobs and fear being forced to move. 33% of youth polled by Foster Club reported that they had less than a week’s worth of cash on hand. […]
Around the country, youth in foster group homes, juvenile detention centers, and prisons are testing positive for the coronavirus. Some places have seen riots, with kids running away from facilities because they are afraid of being infected – in one instance they were tear-gassed. These children are being placed in 20-hour-plus solitary confinement for their […]
Join us on Thursday, May 21st at 3 PM EST for a virtual art class with Ronald Draper, Children’s Rights Young Professional Leadership Council Member, and Award-Winning Visual Artist. Reciprocity & Generosity Through Art: A virtual art class for all experience levels to offer hope to those who need it most. The concept: […]
I was born in New Jersey 21 years ago but moved as a baby to Pakistan with my parents and half-sister. Fast forward to 2018 when, halfway through my junior year at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, I moved into The New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan. Me! Living at an iconic New York landmark, built […]
