Justice for Children Initiative
Our Justice for Children Initiative works to ensure that children's voices are heard and their best interests are prioritized in family court proceedings across the country.
Our Mission
The Justice for Children Initiative believes that every child deserves to have their voice heard and their needs placed at the center of family court decisions. We work to reform a system that too often fails to protect the most vulnerable parties in custody and family legal disputes.
Key Focus Areas
Advocacy & Reform
We advocate for policy reforms that prioritize child safety and well-being in family court proceedings, including improved training for judges and court personnel.
Legal Support
We provide pro bono legal assistance to children and protective parents in high-conflict custody cases where there are concerns about child safety.
Education
We educate parents, legal professionals, and court officials about trauma-informed approaches and developmental considerations when making decisions affecting children.
Research
We conduct research on best practices for centering children's needs in family court proceedings and the impact of various custody arrangements on child outcomes.
Our Impact
Children assisted through our legal advocacy program
State legislatures that have adopted our recommended policy reforms
Legal and court professionals trained in child-centered approaches
Case Studies
Guardian Ad Litem Reform in Illinois
Our initiative worked with the Illinois legislature to pass comprehensive reform of the state's guardian ad litem (GAL) system, establishing new training requirements and accountability measures for court-appointed child representatives.
Read the full case studyChild-Centered Custody Evaluation Standards
Working with psychologists and child development experts, we developed a new set of standards for custody evaluations that emphasize children's developmental needs and have been adopted by courts in seven states.
Read the full case studyGet Involved
There are many ways to support our Justice for Children Initiative. Your involvement can help ensure that children's voices are heard in family court proceedings.
For Professionals
- Join our network of pro bono attorneys
- Participate in our training programs
- Contribute to our research initiatives
For Everyone
- Support our work with a donation
- Volunteer for our community outreach events
- Share our resources with those who need them