The Support Center for Child Advocates provides legal assistance and social service advocacy for abused and neglected children in Philadelphia County. Child Advocates is one of the most successful volunteer models serving children in the country. Since its founding in 1977, Child Advocates has trained more than 3,500 attorneys who contribute pro bono services valued at more than $3.5 million annually.
Child Advocates seeks to protect children by securing social services, finding alternative homes and helping them testify in court. For all of the children committed to our care, we work to ensure safety, health, education, family permanency and access to justice. Systemically, we promote collaborative, multi-disciplinary casework and solutions to recurrent problems. For the community, we provide educational programs to increase awareness about the problems of and ways to prevent child abuse. Whenever possible, Child Advocates seeks to maintain children and families in their own homes. Respected for diligent and effective advocacy throughout more than 30 years of service, Child Advocates attorneys and social workers move public systems to deliver entitled services and private providers to open their doors to needy children and their families.
Mission Statement "To advocate for victims of child abuse and neglect in Philadelphia with the goal of securing a permanent, nurturing environment for every child."
volunteers The Support Center for Child Advocates welcomes community volunteers to advance our important mission of service. Lawyers can represent children in one of several Core Programs. Paralegals and legal assistants can help with file review, case chronologies and litigation support. Volunteers can serve in a leadership role as a member of a Board Committee and help with vital fundraising efforts.
All volunteers attend a full-day training program, including presentations and skill sessions on juvenile law, services planning, interview techniques, and the dynamics of child abuse. Our training manual How To Handle A Child Abuse Case and extensive resource materials are provided to attendees. Each pro bono attorney is teamed with a staff social worker and assigned one child or sibling group. The Child Advocate team conducts home visits and participates in service planning meetings and court hearings. Cases typically remain open 2 to 5 years.
programs
Child Advocates legal and social services are offered to child victims in five Core Programs:
Child Protection
Medically Needy Children
Kinship Care
Adoption
Child Advocacy Leadership
Children are referred to Child Advocates by the courts, District Attorney's Office, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, hospitals, and private social service agencies.
our home
In April 2002, the agency moved to its new, permanent home at 1900 Cherry Street. The new location provides meeting rooms for children and families, and a training center for the volunteer lawyers. With projected savings on occupancy costs exceeding $2 million over the next fifteen years, the move will ensure Child Advocates’ future financial stability and the responsible stewardship of resources.
special service initiatives The Support Center for Child Advocates engages in several special service initiatives, targeting areas of particular need to improve outcomes in our community.
leadership programs The Law Enforcement Child Abuse Project (LECAP pronounced “LEE-cap”)
A monthly, interagency colloquium that identifies barriers to service and recommends improvements to Philadelphia's child protective services system.
The National Children’s Law Network (NCLN)
A consortium of eight children’s law offices throughout the United States working together to identify best-practice approaches, outcomes and strategies to improve the practice of law for children and youth. NCLN focuses on advancing policy and has developed a successful training program to ensure all court-involved children will be “In School, The Right School and Finish School.” www.NCLNetwork.org
