LEGAL COUNSEL FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN
PO Box 28629, Seattle, WA 98118 www.lcycwa.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) improves the well-being of young people by advancing their legal rights. We accomplish our mission through direct legal representation, strong community partnerships, and systemic advocacy.

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) improves the well-being of young people by advancing their legal rights. We accomplish our mission through direct representation, strong community partnerships, and systemic advocacy. LCYC was created, and has continued to evolve, in response to community needs and service gaps, expanding access to justice for young people in Washington. We provide direct legal services to hundreds of young people annually, from toddlers to 24 years in age. Our four main focus areas include: child welfare, juvenile court, immigrant youth and families, and youth homelessness. We provide youth-centered, community-based, holistic legal advocacy. We meet youth where they are - geographically, developmentally, emotionally, culturally, and linguistically. We collaborate with the youth, family members, educators, service providers, and other community partners to ensure that the legal and non-legal needs of the youth are met.

CHILD WELFARE: LCYC provides holistic legal advocacy services to over 200 children and youth in child welfare cases in King County each year, ranging in age from toddlers to 21 years. LCYC's low case loads, and youth centered service model positively affects the lives of the children we serve. LCYC attorneys are able to enter the child's world, protect the child's rights, and ensure services are provided and movement towards permanency is steady. LCYC provides proactive advocacy, engaging with children, caregivers, schools, family, services providers, and other community supports. We strive not only to meet the immediate basic needs and rights of the child, but we look towards the future. We follow the child's stated goals, build support around these goals, and help our youth clients to realize long-term stability, positive connections, and school success. In addition to low caseloads, LCYC's model is grounded in a strong community of practice. LCYC attorneys engage in monthly all-staff meetings, regular supervision and case management, and in-house trainings on legal issues and child development. We routinely come together to problem solve on individual matters and to identify systemic barriers and potential solutions. We also engage with the broader community on larger advocacy efforts and trainings focused on children's representation, preparing adolescents for independence, extended foster care, and youth homelessness. LCYC is raising awareness of children's legal rights and the role of counsel in protecting and advocating for young people. Our unique position in this positive movement forward is through the example we set in our advocacy, the trainings we help plan and provide for children's attorneys around the state, and the data we collect and share regarding legal services and results.

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM: In 2017, the Homeless Youth Legal Network of the American Bar Association named LCYC one of twelve model programs nationally providing quality legal services to youth struggling with homelessness. The success of LCYC's model rests largely on the strength of our partnerships with local shelters, service providers, juvenile court professionals, and schools. Roughly 200 young people receive legal advice and advocacy through our Youth Homelessness Program. Youth are eligible if they are 12-24 years old and experiencing or at risk of homelessness in King County. This includes youth placed out of county, but with plans to exit into King County. Services provided may include legal advice, mediation or negotiation, and in-court advocacy. We are able to assist with a number of civil legal issues including, but not limited to: child protective services, emancipation, gender marker and name changes, identity theft, landlord/tenant issues, public benefits, consumer and medical debt, family law, warrants, immigration, and orders of protection. An independent evaluation conducted by MEMconsultants LLC found that "LCYC's legal advocacy had an immediate, positive impact on clients." "65% clients reported safe and stable housing after working with an LCYC attorney, compared to 39% at intake. LCYC advocacy improved housing stability for 70% of minors served."

JUVENILE COURT. LCYC represents about 75 youth annually, who have been charged with a juvenile offense. LCYC advises and addresses the specific charges against the youth, while also offering advocacy around issues such as homelessness, special education, school discipline, access to benefits, and safety at home. LCYC works closely with King County Juvenile Court probation counselors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, detention staff and the judiciary to empower youth and reduce recidivism.

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