Almost all of us will go home this evening to a safe and predictable environment. We will not lie awake half the night, wondering if we will be physically assaulted, sexually abused, hungry or sleeping on a different floor or mattress tomorrow. And we will not be frightened or vulnerable because of our physical size, age or inability to care for ourselves.
Unfortunately, many children in our community do not enjoy our same good fortune. The statistics are disturbing: every year, thousands of children are abandoned, undernourished, beaten, abused or neglected; by age 16, one in three girls and one in five boys have been sexually assaulted; there is a constant need for the 500 state-licensed foster homes in King County, which are often close to capacity and unable to take “emergency placements;” one in 10 children lives in poverty, with the rates for Hispanics, one in seven, and for African Americans, one in three; and homelessness knows no age limit — on any given night, approximately one in three individuals at emergency shelters or in transitional housing is under the age of 18.
The theme of this month’s Bar Bulletin is “Youth.” Several organizations that provide assistance to our unfortunate or forgotten children are featured. I encourage you to read about their outstanding and selfless work on behalf of our most vulnerable population. I also encourage you to commit to contribute in some way to their continued success and collective mission. As adults and as privileged members of the legal profession, it really is the least we can do.
Abused and Neglected Children: CASA and Childhaven
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Dependency Program volunteer advocates for the best interests of an abused or neglected child in Juvenile Court proceedings. The CASA interviews the child and several adults, reviews relevant documents and remains involved in the case until the child is returned home or placed in another permanent home. The lawyer or community volunteer is a dedicated individual, who works tirelessly on what can be heart-wrenching issues.
My law partner, Maria Milano, is one of those individuals. In the last several years, Maria has advocated for approximately 18 children, often in the same family, often for years. One of her more recent cases involved an infant whose teenaged mother was abused and neglected, a prostitute and a drug addict, and whose 50-year-old father was a convicted sex offender recently released from prison after serving five years for raping a child. Maria’s “client” is now three years old, in a loving environment, with foster parents who want to adopt him.
Maria is passionate about affecting the lives of the children she represents. Unfortunately, she cannot represent all of the hundreds of children in King County in need of a CASA on any given day. If you are interested in becoming a CASA or a pro bono CASA (which involves less time commitment) or if you would like more information, please see the article on page 18, visit www.washingtonstatecasa.org or contact GAL.Group@kingcounty.gov.
Childhaven provides a daily refuge for abused or neglected infants and children (and for those at risk for abuse or neglect), aged one month to five years. Childhaven’s four branches provide transportation to and from their all-day facilities, where therapy, crisis management and drug-affected-infant programs are available. The 150 dedicated staff members typically treat 300 children daily. Contact the agency at 206-624-6477 or at www.childhaven.org for information regarding volunteer and donation opportunities.
Dissolutions, Custody Issues and Children: CASA
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Family Law volunteer assists the court in its resolution of child custody disputes. The Family Law CASA performs functions similar to a guardian ad litem, but for low- and moderate-income families. The volunteer visits the child’s home, interviews teachers, friends and other knowledgeable adults, and submits a written report to the court, which may include recommendations about parental custody and visitation issues and services that might benefit the child or family. For more information on this outstanding program, visit www.familylawcasa.org and see the article beginning on page 1.
Sexual Abuse and Children: KCSARC
The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) provides services to more than 3,000 victims and their families every year. Approximately one in four clients is a child and one in five is a teenager. One in five is male.
Children are very susceptible to sexual abuse, even as infants and toddlers. Because half of all offenders are either family members or individuals acting as family members, a child often is assaulted at home. KCSARC provides individual and group therapy, medical evaluations and advocacy, parental education and legal advocacy counseling.
KCSARC needs volunteer lawyers who will assist counselors with Sexual Assault Protection Orders. The time commitment is modest and the Center will provide SAPO training, but the request for an order is often time sensitive. For more information, visit www.kcsarc.org or call 425-226-5062.
Homeless Children: Morningsong
King County’s “Annual One Night Count” of the homeless in our community took place overnight on January 25–26, 2007. Volunteers counted 2,159 people surviving on the streets, in tents or in vehicles; 2,368 in emergency shelters; and 3,312 in transitional housing programs. Of those in shelters or programs, 712 were infants and toddlers under the age of five years and 975 were children or teenagers.
Morningsong Early Learning Center, a Family Services program, is an all-day childcare facility for homeless children, ages one to five years. Morningsong provides food, clothing, toys, supervision, medical and dental care, and preschool training. Family Services welcomes donations of children’s items and clothing. For more information and to inquire about volunteer opportunities, call 206-826-3052 or visit www.family-services.org.
Foster Care: Treehouse
A recent report indicated that the number of children in foster care in our area is increasing 33% faster than the general population. Many abused and neglected children need immediate, emergency placement. Others need long-term homes. Statewide, only three in 10 placed children stay in the same city. Most foster children lose their homes and parents, as well as their friends, teachers and almost all that is known and familiar.
Treehouse assists foster parents by “filling in the gaps.” Treehouse provides tutors and advocacy for educational needs; clothing, school supplies, books and computers through its “Wear-house;” funding to allow foster children to attend summer camps and extra-curricular programs; and assistance with college applications, scholarships and advancement opportunities. Treehouse needs volunteers and donors. Visit www.treehouse4kids.org to review the agency’s programs and opportunities.
Legal Advocacy for Teens: TeamChild
Many youth released after an arrest face overwhelming obstacles when they try to put their pasts behind them. TeamChild, established in 1995 by the Defender Association, Columbia Legal Services and the Washington Defender Association, provides legal representation and advocacy for these teens on issues related to school, access to healthcare and housing stability.
Annual evaluations indicate that a TeamChild attorney does have a significant impact on a child’s life through enhanced educational, mental health and social services and that the attorney-child relationship reduces the likelihood of recidivism. TeamChild provides several volunteer opportunities for attorneys: pro bono representation, involvement through WSBA’s Juvenile Law Section with youth law issues, educating others in the community and donation options. Visit www.teamchild.org and see the article beginning on page 1.
Legal Advocacy for Homeless Teens: SYLAW
Street Youth Legal Advocates of Washington (SYLAW) provides civil legal representation, information and education to the homeless and at-risk youth population in our state. Areas of focus include employment, housing, public entitlements and schooling. University of Washington law students provide a Street Youth Legal Drop-in Clinic for referral purposes and a Juvenile Record Sealing Clinic. For more information, call 206-679-2061 or visit www.sylaw.org.
Children with Special Needs: Northwest Justice Project
One of the many important contributions that the Northwest Justice Project’s (NJP) King County office makes to our community involves representation of low-income clients whose children have been denied classroom accommodations or have been expelled or suspended from school. Recent NJP clients include a classroom of severely disabled students who were not provided with proper staffing and facilities; students who were wrongfully expelled; and special-education students who were not provided with appropriate evaluation and support by school districts.
NJP also assists low-income families and children with family law, housing, benefits, consumer and immigration issues. See www.nwjustice.org for more information and volunteer opportunities.
Please consider contacting one or more youth-related organizations and contributing your time or resources to a better tomorrow for our children. It really is the least we can do.
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Eileen M. Concannon is a principal at Riddell Williams P.S., specializing in commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration. For references or comments, please contact her at econcannon@riddellwilliams.com.
