Family Integrity
Holistic advocacy that starts with listening to our clients.
Ensuring that young people have a say in their own lives and futures.
The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts’ Family Integrity Practice provides zealous advocacy to children and youth living in foster care, and those at risk of being taken into foster care.
We also represent young adults aged 18 to 22 years old who have “aged out of” foster care and youth in “Child Requiring Assistance” (CRA) cases. Courts in Essex County appoint Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts attorneys who are certified by the state's Committee for Public Counsel Services' (CPCS) Children and Family Law (CAFL) Program to represent children in these matters.
Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts knows that children, youth, and their families understand what support, resources, and living arrangements will serve them best. Our clients direct their representation whenever possible.
For our clients
Making systems work for young people.
Our clients have a voice — we make sure they’re heard.
The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts knows that children, youth, and their families understand what support, resources, and living arrangements will serve them best. Our clients direct their representation whenever possible.
Seeing the bigger picture for every client.
CLCM’s child and youth clients come to CLCM with many unmet legal needs. CLCM works with clients and/or their caretakers to determine what the children and young adults need. This holistic representation includes advocacy in education, health care, housing, and immigration matters.
One case, wide impact
Building better systems for families.
The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts has zealously represented low-income children and youth. Consistent with its mission, the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts attorneys offer client-directed legal representation and holistic advocacy with the goal of expanding children’s equitable access to achieve their own life goals.
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Improving conditions and policies for children and youth to allow them to safely live with (or return to) their families, kin, and communities whenever possible.
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Reducing the harm that children and youth experience in foster and congregate care settings.
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Diminishing and eliminating the disproportionately negative impact of the family regulation/child welfare system has on families of color, families living with disabilities, immigrant families, and LGBTQ+ families.
Request Assistance
The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts:
Can only offer information about the rights of children who are involved with DCF or in Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases. CLCM does not represent children in Care and Protections (C&P), CRAs, custody disputes, guardianships, or other family law matters except by court appointment.
Does not represent children in emancipation requests, but attorneys are available to speak with children and youth about emancipation.
For more information on our practice, the scope of cases that we can consider, and other ways to get in touch, please visit our Request Assistance page.