The Alliance For Children's Rights Overview of Services

Each year, The Alliance assists nearly 7,000 caregivers, relatives and other concerned individuals seeking information and advice about legal issues affecting children (0 – 21 years old) living in out of home care: Health Care Probate Legal Guardianship Public Benefits Special Education Transitioning Youth/Mentoring Foster Care Adoption All of our programs are free.

THE ALLIANCE STAFF includes lawyers, social workers and advocates and volunteers who understand prevailing laws and regulations affecting children and families.

HEALTH CARE PROGRAM The Alliance works to resolve the legal barriers that prevent children from accessing medical care: Medi-Cal eligibility and treatment denials Medical Consent Issues Minor Consent Services Access to Mental Health

PROBATE LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM Probate legal guardianship gives legal authority to individuals caring for children who are not their own. The Alliance provides:  individual representation through in-house and pro bono attorneys  a monthly legal clinic which prepares caregivers to represent themselves in probate court The Alliance also assists parents with a life-threatening or terminal illness obtain joint guardianship for their children.

PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM The Alliance assists caregivers, (relatives, non- relatives, and foster parents) obtain appropriate benefits for the children in their care: Foster Care Benefits, including Specialized Care Rates CalWORKs State Foster Care

SPECIAL EDUCATION The Alliance provides direct advocacy for foster children who need special education services to succeed in school. It is estimated that nearly one-half of foster children have learning disabilities or developmental delays. Our services include:  advocating for proper assessments to determine eligibility  attending IEPs  filing compliance complaints and due process hearings

TRANSITIONING YOUTH PROGRAM The Alliance reaches out to current and former foster youth to help prepare them for independent life through legal education, self-advocacy training, and assistance with legal problems. Topics include:  sealing juvenile court records  clearing tickets and warrants  public benefits  housing  employment  education issues

FOSTER CHILDREN’S ADOPTION PROGRAM  Utilizing hundreds of pro bono attorneys, The Alliance finalizes almost one-third of all Los Angeles County foster care adoptions.  The Alliance helped initiate National Adoption Day in 2000, working with the courts and other agencies. Now every state in the country participates in National Adoption Day, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

TRAININGS Foster Care Adoption Probate Legal Guardianship Medical Consent and Minor Consent Laws Foster Care Overview Special Education Public Benefits LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care The Alliance staff provides training on prevailing laws and regulations affecting children in out of home care. Topics include:

LEGAL ADVOCACY Through litigation and legislative reform, the Alliance promotes the protocols and practices that are in the best interest of children in out of home care. The Alliance works on behalf of individual clients, as well as addressing systemic problems which impact this population.

OBTAINING ASSISTANCE FROM THE ALLIANCE Contact the Alliance directly to inquire about services. An intake worker (Spanish speaking intake workers are available) will be happy to speak to you. Call us at (213)