Childrens Rights Inc

EVERY DAY, CHILDREN ARE HARMED BY AMERICA'S BROKEN CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. THROUGH RELENTLESS STRATEGIC ADVOCACY AND LEGAL ACTION, CHILDREN'S RIGHTS HOLDS GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE AND HEALTHY.

2021 WAS A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR CHILDREN IN GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS, WHERE THEY FACED TRAUMA, ABUSE, NEGLECT, DISCRIMINATION AND A LACK OF ACCESS TO CRITICAL SERVICES, IN PARTICULAR MENTAL HEALTH CARE. IN RESPONSE, THROUGH TARGETED ADVOCACY, CHILDRENS RIGHTS CALLED FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THE LAWS AND POLICIES IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM THAT HAVE LED TO THE DISPROPORTIONATE SEPARATION OF BLACK FAMILIES, EXPOSED THE HARMS DONE TO LGBTQ+ CHILDREN IN GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS, AND RAISED AWARENESS FOR THE DANGERS POSED BY THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF YOUTH. IN 8 STATES, OUR LEGAL CASES CONTINUED TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN. ADVOCACY AND POLICYDISMANTLING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AT THE FRONT END OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM: INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN CHILD WELFARE IS AN URGENT CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. WE PUBLISHED A REPORT THAT DESCRIBES HOW RACIST STRUCTURES CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISPROPORTIONATE INVOLVEMENT OF BLACK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS AND OUTLINES STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS AND THE UNNECESSARY SURVEILLANCE, INVESTIGATION, AND SEPARATION OF BLACK FAMILIES. THE REPORT HAS LED LAWMAKERS, STATE AGENCY LEADERS, AND CHILD WELFARE ADVOCATES TO BEGIN TO REIMAGINE A CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS THE INTEGRITY OF BLACK FAMILIES. EXPOSING THE AMPLIFIED DANGERS AND DISCRIMINATION FACED BY LGBTQ+ KIDS: AS THE PANDEMIC GROUND ON, CHILDRENS RIGHTS ISSUED A REPORT EXAMINING THE SHOCKINGLY AMPLIFIED STRESS AND ANXIETY LGBTQ+ YOUTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM ARE LIVING WITH DUE TO DISCRIMINATION AND REJECTION AND CALLING FOR ACTION TO BRING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY AND SAFE.ENDING THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CHILDREN: OUR CAMPAIGN TO END THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONS INSTEAD OF FAMILY HOMES RAISED AWARENESS FOR WHY THIS PRACTICE MUST STOP AND OFFERS CONCRETE STEPS THAT CAN BE MADE TO EFFECT CHANGE. OUR PUBLISHED REPORT DESCRIBES THE TOXIC STRESS CHILDREN ENDURE, WHICH ALTERS THEIR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, LEADS TO INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, CREATES MANY NEGATIVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, AND DRAMATICALLY REDUCES LIFE EXPECTANCY.LITIGATIONWE FILED A LAWSUIT IN ALABAMA BECAUSE THE STATE DISCRIMINATES AGAINST FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS BY UNNECESSARILY SEGREGATING THEM IN RESTRICTIVE, PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES AND BY DENYING THEM THE CHANCE TO GROW UP IN HOMES. THE LAWSUIT SEEKS A COURT ORDER REQUIRING THE STATE TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD IS UNNECESSARILY PLACED IN THESE DRACONIAN SETTINGS.A COURT DECISION IN OUR CASE IN GEORGIA CLEARED THE FINAL BARRIER TO PROVIDING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO STUDENTS BEING HELD AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL. THE JUDGES RULING SENT A MESSAGE TO STUDENTS THAT BEING IN JAIL IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR DENYING THEM AN EDUCATION. EDUCATION FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS LEGALLY REQUIRED, AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS HELPS DECREASE RECIDIVISM AND POVERTY UPON RELEASE.OUR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN KANSAS EARLY IN THE YEAR HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL YOUTH UP TO 21 YEARS OLD. THE STATE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A STRUCTURE TO GUARANTEE TRAUMA SCREENS TO ALL FOSTER CHILDREN UPON ENTRY INTO CARE, A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN HELPING TO ENSURE CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GET THE CARE THEY NEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SINCE EARLY INTERVENTION IS A KEY TO IMPROVEMENT AND HEALING.A JUDGE IN MAINE RULED THAT OUR CASE THERE MAY PROCEED TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN WHO COME INTO FOSTER CARE IN NEED OF THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE NOT INSTEAD ADMINISTERED POWERFUL PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS WITHOUT ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.OUR UNRELENTING ADVOCACY FOR MILWAUKEES CHILDREN RESULTED IN SWEEPING IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING INCREASED CHILD SAFETY, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAUMA INFORMED SYSTEMS, SAFER COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWERED AND UPLIFTED FAMILIES. IN THE SEPTEMBER HEARING TO OFFICIALLY RELEASE THE STATE FROM FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, THE FEDERAL JUDGE OVERSEEING THE CASE TEARFULLY CALLED OUR WORK, A CELEBRATION OF WHAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN DO WHEN THEY TRY, AND WHEN THEY WORK TOGETHER.IN NEW HAMPSHIRE OLDER YOUTH WITH MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESSES ARE BEING UNNECESSARILY HOUSED IN INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER GROUP FACILITIES AND CHURNED THROUGH THE STATES FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AT AN ALARMING RATE. WE FILED A LAWSUIT CALLING FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF YOUTH LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE STATES CARE.OUR CASE IN OHIO IS ABOUT FAIRNESS AND HOLDING THE STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING EQUITABLE SUPPORT TO ALL FOSTER CARE PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE ESPECIALLY BLACK GRANDPARENTS. IN DECEMBER WE FILED A BRIEF URGING A US COURT OF APPEALS TO REVERSE AN EARLIER DISTRICT COURTS DISMISSAL OF THE CASE AS WE CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR ALL THE RELATIVES WHO DEVOTE THEIR LIVES TO KIDS IN THEIR CARE.COURT-ORDERED MONITORS REPORTS IN OUR CASE IN TEXAS SHOWED HOW THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM HAS BETRAYED CHILDREN, RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF KIDS WITH NO FAMILY TO LIVE WITH SLEEPING ON CONFERENCE ROOM FLOORS OR THE BACK OF A CAR. IT DRIVES HOME THE VITAL ROLE OUR LAWSUIT IS PLAYING IN UNCOVERING ABUSES LIKE THIS AND MAKING SURE THE STATE STOPS HARMING KIDS AND ONCE AND FOR ALL FIXES ITS BROKEN SYSTEM.