|
A Young Mom Transforms Her Life
|
Young mom Andrea transformed her life after facing nothing but challenges throughout her childhood. Family Advocacy Unit social worker Maggie Potter and attorney Bill Gibbons first met Andrea when she was 18 years old. She and her son Elijah were in a foster home together at the time, and DHS removed Elijah from Andrea's care because of concerns about her behavior and mental health. While Elijah stayed with family members, Maggie worked extensively with Andrea to help address her mental health through regular therapy, and she also guided Andrea in getting her education back on track. By demonstrating that Andrea could achieve a stable life for herself and her son, Maggie and Bill built a solid case for reunification. Maggie even connected Elijah's advocate directly with Andrea's therapist, so the child advocate could hear firsthand that Andrea was improving immensely. Maggie and Bill represented Andrea during reunification hearings, presenting firm, comprehensive evidence that she was ready to bring her son home. Andrea graduated from her high school program this past summer, and she and Elijah are now living in their own apartment. This motivated mom is now preparing to enroll in college courses while Elijah begins kindergarten. Because CLS advocated so strongly for her family, Andrea is ready to continue moving forward with her son by her side.
CLS's Youth Justice Project works collaboratively to help young moms like Andrea, who often need additional support as they tackle difficult obstacles and work toward successful futures. Read more about the Youth Justice Project and find resources at
www.clsphila.org/youthjustice.
|
#WeNeedToWork
In recognition of the barriers to employment for many people living in poverty, CLS and Redeemed PA, an organization founded by CLS Board member Bill Cobb, have launched the #WeNeedToWork Campaign. Many Pennsylvanians are shut out of the labor market despite their best efforts. Young people, people with criminal records, and people with disabilities remain severely underemployed, even as Pennsylvania as whole recovers from recession. The #WeNeedToWork Campaign aims to lift people out of poverty and boost our economy by advocating for both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania to create subsidized programs, using existing funding sources, so that people who are looking for work can support their families.
To learn more, read our recent commentary in The Philadelphia Inquirer on why Philadelphia and Pennsylvania should invest in jobs programs.
|
Three New Law School Funded Fellows Join CLS
to Represent and Advocate for Vulnerable Populations
CLS is proud to announce the hiring of three legal fellows to represent vulnerable, under-served populations in Philadelphia: parents of teens involved with the child welfare system, members of Kensington's Latinx community, and limited English proficient Asian immigrants. Legal assistance can lift people out of poverty, stabilize families, and prevent devastating outcomes such as homelessness and hunger. The three fellows (from left, Caroline Buck; Seth Lyons; and Chi-Ser Tran) will expand CLS's outreach initiatives as we continue to innovate and use new strategies in the fight for justice. They are are funded, respectively, by Yale Law School's Initiative for Public Interest Law, Penn Law School and Berkeley Law School. Learn more.
|
|
