Juvenile Law Center
Founded:
1975
Contact:
Robert Schwartz,
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Address:
Juvenile Law Center
1315 Walnut Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia,
PA
19107
Phone:
1-800-875-8887
Fax:
(215) 625-2808
URL:
http://jlc.org/
NPO Spotlight - Juvenile Law Center
Mission:
To protect and promote children's rights and interests in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that public systems do not harm children or youth in their care.
About the Organization:
Founded in 1975 as a nonprofit legal service, JLC promotes juvenile justice and child welfare reform in Pennsylvania and the nation through policy initiatives and public education forums. From the beginning, JLC took a rights-based approach to representing children and youth, exercising two core principles: coercive government intervention into the lives of youth should be prevented or limited to the degree necessary; and, when necessary, intervention should be accomplished in a manner consistent with due process. Today, JLC maintains a national litigation practice that includes appellate and amicus curiae (friend of the court) work; trains lawyers, judges, and professionals; works with academic researchers to develop sound public policy; and educates and informs the public.
Current Programs:
JLC's programs include information and record sharing, juvenile justice and education, transitions to adulthood, and physical and behavioral healthcare projects, and, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a girls health screening project that works to develop and promote a system to identify health issues in girls entering the juvenile justice system. JLC also directs the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change initiative in Pennsylvania, and partners with the Legal Center for Foster Care and Education and the National Working Group on Foster Care on several foster care and education projects.
Web Site:
The JLC Web site provides fact sheets on a range of topics, including low-income child care, reproductive and family planning rights for young women, immigration, and job training. It also offers information on the organization's litigation practice, a list of JLC publications, and a newsletter.
Funding:
JLC receives funding from individuals and foundations.
| 
