East Bay Childrens Law Offices Incorporated

THE MISSION OF THE EAST BAY CHILDRENS LAW OFFICES, INC. IS TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH HOLISTIC, VIGOROUS AND COMPASSIONATE LEGAL ADVOCACY. EBCLO STRIVES TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR CHILDREN IN AND OUT OF COURT AND TO PROMOTE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THEM.

DEPENDENCY ADVOCACY PROGRAM: EAST BAY CHILDRENS LAW OFFICES IS APPOINTED BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT TO REPRESENT CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN JUVENILE DEPENDENCY CASES. WE REPRESENT CHILDREN AT ALL STAGES OF JUVENILE COURT PROCEEDINGS WHICH BEGIN WHEN ALAMEDA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES FILES A PETITION ALLEGING ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF CHILDREN BY THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. FROM THE INITIAL DETENTION HEARING THROUGH THE CHILD EXITING THE SYSTEM, OUR MULTI-DISCIPLINARY MODEL OF REPRESENTATION FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING THE CHILDS VOICE IN DECISIONS THAT REALLY MATTER AND IDENTIFYING AND REQUESTING SERVICES NEEDED BY OUR CLIENTS. WE CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATE FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND ENFORCE THE WIDE VARIETY OF RIGHTS ATTACHED TO THEIR STATUS AS DEPENDENTS OF THE COURT. IN 2021, WE SERVED 1,973 CHILDREN IN DEPENDENCY COURT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

PROBATE GUARDIANSHIP COUNSEL FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM: EBCLO ALSO ACCEPTS APPOINTMENT TO REPRESENT CHILDREN IN PROBATE GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS. THE EBCLO TEAM ASSESSES THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE GUARDIANSHIP AND ASSISTS THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OBTAINING NECESSARY COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CASE MANAGEMENT. WHILE CHILDREN ARE NOT ENTITLED TO AN ATTORNEY IN PROBATE COURT PROCEEDINGS, EBCLO IS APPOINTED IN THE MOST COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING CASES BEFORE THE COURT. IN 2021, WE REPRESENTED 93 CHILDREN IN PROBATE COURT AND HELPED TO SECURE GUARDIANSHIP ORDERS FOR 37 CHILDREN. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR ANOTHER 7 CHILDREN TO STAY WITH OR RETURN TO THEIR PARENTS CARE.

COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCACY FOR RESOURCES AND EDUCATION (CARE): THE CARE PROGRAM USES A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILD CLIENTS BEYOND THE FOUR WALLS OF THE COURTROOM. CARE PROVIDES INTENSIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT THROUGH SPECIALIST ATTORNEYS AND SOCIAL WORKERS WHO HONE IN ON KEY AREAS OF PRACTICEEDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, CROSS-OVER YOUTH AND 0-5 YEAR OLDSTO MAXIMIZE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILD CLIENTS. IN EARLY 2021, SCHOOL REMAINED LARGELY VIRTUAL FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF EBCLO CLIENTS, MANY OF WHOM WERE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR SCHOOL OF ORIGIN DESPITE MOVING HOMES BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF REMOTE EDUCATION. IN THE FALL OF 2021, WHEN SCHOOL RESUMED ON CAMPUS HOWEVER, EMOTIONS RAN HIGH AND EBCLO CLIENTS WERE FREQUENT SUBJECTS OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY ACTION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)