Delivering Justice for Vulnerable Children

The Children’s Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers young people experiencing disruption or violence in their family lives. We are the first and only organization in NYC providing legal representation and social work support for children in custody/visitation, domestic violence, guardianship, paternity and child protective matters in Family Court. Our job is to make sure that children's needs are heard in court decisions that decide fundamental aspects of their lives.

In 2025, CLC empowered more than 8,400 children and youth embroiled in complex Family Court proceedings. Behind each of those numbers lies a unique story. We know, however, that there are many more children who would benefit from our services: in the same year, the court system saw 141,000 filings in total. The voices of thousands of court-involved children continue to go unheard by decision-makers.

At the same time, we know firsthand that a disproportionate number of children involved in the court system face chronic disinvestment, racial bias, and poverty. The need for CLC's holistic services is tremendous, especially for children who have experienced horrific acts of violence.

85% of CLC clients are children of color
70% of client families report being on Medicaid
30% of clients are victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse or other abuse
More than 25% of clients have Individualized Education Plans
20% of domestic violence homicides in NYC involve a child aged 10 or younger

Children deserve access to the highest quality lawyers and social workers who will fight for their needs. With your support, we can expand programming that helps children achieve safety while improving their educational, health and immigration outcomes.