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Jan. 16, 2008 - Plaintiffs in Braam v. Washington are returning to court today claiming that the state has failed to comply with a settlement agreement reached more than three years ago to make desperately needed changes to its foster care system. Citing “egregious” examples of continued non-compliance, lawyers for thousands of the state’s foster children have asked the court to enforce the settlement reached in July 2004.
December 13, 2007 - The state’s largest and most influential groups advocating for homeless individuals with mental illness have sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to restore a highly effective program they say is vital to their clients’ safety and well-being. The lawsuit charges that the Governor violated Proposition 63, now known as the Mental Health Services Act – the law passed by voters to expand mental health services in California. Read more
NCYL Deputy Director Patrick Gardner has been appointed to the newly established California Child Welfare Council. The goal of the Council is to increase collaboration among agencies and courts that serve foster youth, and improve the coordination and delivery of foster youth services. The Council was formed as the result of AB 2216 – co-sponsored by NCYL – which was signed by the Governor last year.
Oct. 11, 2007 - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed Senate Bill 39, a groundbreaking bill that mandates public disclosure of findings and information about children who have died of abuse or neglect. The goal of the bill is to promote public scrutiny of cases in order to improve the child welfare system and ensure children's safety. SB 39 was authored by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) and co-sponsored by the National Center for Youth Law and the Children's Advocacy Institute. It is one of seven foster care reform bills signed today by the Governor. Download: Press Release
Oct. 9, 2007 - Several disability rights and legal service advocacy groups are demanding that funding for proven programs to assist homeless people with mental illness be restored. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the (AB 2034) appropriation and the advocates have alerted the Governor they will bring a lawsuit if there is no agreement to restore funding by October 23. Download: Press Release and Demand Letter.
(L to R) NCYL attorneys Bryn Martyna and Leecia Welch; Frankie Guzman, Assistant to the Director; and NCYL Director John O'Toole at the award ceremony, held during the California Probation, Parole, and Correctional Association conference in South Lake Tahoe, Ca. |
Sept. 13, 2007 - Frankie Guzman, Assistant to the Director at NCYL, was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Achievement Award by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice. Frankie was recognized for his contributions to the community, and being an exemplary role model for at-risk youth.
Sept. 5, 2007 - Both the CA Senate and Assembly have voted in favor of SB 39, which mandates public disclosure of findings and information about children who have died of abuse or neglect. The goal of the bill, authored by Sen. Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), is to promote public scrutiny of cases in order to improve child welfare policy and practice to ensure children’s safety.
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July 10, 2007 - Leecia Welch, senior attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, has been awarded the 2007 Child Advocacy Award by the ABA Young Lawyers Division.
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Court Commends Parties for Their Success
June 29, 2007 - The federal District Court in Utah yesterday approved an agreement between the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and Utah officials to end a longstanding suit to reform Utah’s child welfare system.
March 23, 2007 - A federal appeals court reversed a preliminary injunction requiring intensive mental health services for tens of thousands of foster children. However, the appeals court affirmed California’s obligation to provide effective services to these children, and upheld the lower court’s finding that these children face the grave harm of unnecessary institutionalization without the injunction.
Feb. 21, 2007, Sacramento – Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) has introduced legislation to ban life without parole for youth offenders, which is now the maximum sentence allowed by law. SB 999 would reduce sentence to 25 years to life. The legislation is co-sponsored by NCYL and others.
National and state experts on the mental health needs of foster children today asked the Washington Supreme Court to review lower court decisions that allow judges to incarcerate children as punishment for running away from foster placements.
In an effort to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes for foster youth, NCYL has joined a collaborative effort to provide foster youth with education surrogates.
August 30, 2006, Las Vegas – The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) filed a class action lawsuit today against Nevada Gov. Kenneth C. Guinn, state Health and Human Services Director Michael Willden, and Clark County officials for failing to protect the health and safety of children in Clark County’s child welfare system.
The National Center for Youth Law has been working with the San Francisco Chronicle on its ongoing editorial campaign to reform foster care, providing data and other information. The goal of the campaign is to win passage of key foster care legislation, including NCYL-sponsored AB 863 (authored by Assembly Member Karen Bass), which provides for greater statewide leadership and collaboration in the foster care system. Hearings on that legislation are scheduled to begin in January 2006.
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Photo: Marlene Desautels |
NCYL's work on behalf of poor children is made possible by the generous support of individual donors. We accept online donations via JustGive, a secure, nonprofit website.
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