The Bar-Youth Empowerment Project
What's New
The ABA Commission on Youth at Risk and Bar-Youth Empowerment Project to host Roundtable on Pro Bono Counsel for Youth In and Aging Out of Care
NEW YORK CITY, NY. August 7, 2008 – The Bar-Youth Empowerment Project has begun work planning a Roundtable on pro bono counsel for youth in and aging out of care to take place at the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City. The is intended to share information, exchange ideas, and broaden the network of professionals who are working to help the next generation. A panel of current and former foster youth will join the discussion and share their important perspective on these issues. The focus will be on the needs and challenges facing youth aging out of foster care. In particular, we will discuss how pro bono attorneys, law firms, and bar associations can assist youth both before and after they transition from foster care, identify local programs for youth, highlight the need for volunteer assistance and promote strategies for pro bono involvement. The Roundtable is invite only, but for more information, please email kellyk@staff.abanet.org.
National Pathways to Adulthood Transitional Living and Independent Living Conference Bridges to the Future: Education, Employment, and Engagement | May 14-16, 2008 | Pittsburgh, PA
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Workshop Session I
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
American Bar Association Youth At Risk Commission's Bar-Youth
Empowerment Project: Advocacy for Young Adults Aging/Aged Out
of Foster Care
Andrea Khoury, Assistant Director of Child
Welfare, Project Director, Bar-Youth Empowerment Project
ABA Center on Children and the Law, Washington, DC;
David Ambroz, Executive Director, Los
Angeles City College Foundation, Board Member, ABA Commission
on Youth at Risk, Los Angeles, CA
The American Bar Association Youth at Risk Commission, in partnership
with Casey Family Programs and the Eckerd Foundation, has begun
an exciting new Bar–Youth Empowerment Project to improve
outcomes for youth as they age out of foster care. A central goal
of the project is to collaborate with pro bono attorneys and law
students to provide legal advice and referrals to youth on the
verge of aging out or to youth who have already aged out. Roll-out
of the ABA project and strategies on how practitioners might leverage
local resources to establish similar work in their own jurisdictions
will be discussed.
The ABA Bar-Youth Empowerment Project Announces National Advisory Board
WASHINGTON, DC – The ABA Bar-Youth Empowerment Project has assembled a national advisory board. The board brings together legal, judicial, child welfare, pro bono, and youth representatives from around the country. Each was selected because of the depth of their experience and knowledge relating to youth in and aging out of foster care. Their expertise will guide us throughout the life of this project and provide critical perspectives to examine important legal and advocacy issues on behalf of youth. For the list of members, and to see the minutes from the first meeting, please click here.
The ABA Bar-Youth Empowerment Project Begins Work in First Pilot Site, Florida
FLORIDA – The ABA Bar-Youth Empowerment Project has selected its first mini-grant recipient, Florida’s Children First (FCF). To read more about FCF, please click here. Under the leadership of FCF, the ABA will work throughout the state of Florida to build the capacity of organizations in Florida to improve outcomes for youth before and after they age out of foster care. To inform the process, and encourage collaboration from multiple stakeholders, the ABA has assembled a Florida Advisory Board. The board brings together legal, judicial, child welfare, pro bono, and youth representatives from across the state. For the list of members, and to see the minutes from the first meeting, please click here.
The ABA Commission on Youth at Risk Launches the Bar-Youth Empowerment Project at ABA Mid-Year Meeting
LOS ANGELES, CA. February 7, 2008 – The ABA’s Commission on Youth at Risk and Center on Children and the Law officially launched the Bar-Youth Empowerment project at a reception at the ABA’s midyear meeting in Los Angeles, CA. The reception was sponsored by Daphna and Richard Ziman of Children Uniting Nations, an organization committed to systemic change that positively impacts the lives of at-risk youth and foster children. Will Gunn, Chairman of the Youth at Risk Commission, and Andrea Khoury, Project Director for the Bar-Youth Empowerment Project introduced this new, exciting ABA initiative. ABA Leadership, including current President William Neukom, past President Karen Mathis, and Executive Director Hank White, attended in support of the project.
The ABA Commission on Youth at Risk Holds Roundtable Related to the Needs of Youth Transitioning Out of Care
LOS ANGELES, CA. February 7, 2008 – The ABA’s Commission on Youth at Risk held a Roundtable entitled, Improving the Odds for Transitioning Youth: Promoting Advocacy and Youth Empowerment. The invitation only event brought together youth, judges, attorneys, bar association leaders, law school representatives, and child advocates to discuss ways to improve outcomes for this population of youth. The group also discussed ways to best implement the Bar-Youth Empowerment project, and the specific legal needs of youth who have aged out of care.
Andrea Khoury Testifies before Washington Legislature
in Support of Children’s Right to Legal Counsel
OLYMPIA, WA. January 25, 2008 – On behalf of the American Bar Association, Andrea Khoury, Project Director for the Bar-Youth Empowerment Project, testified before the House Judiciary Committee of the Washington State Legislature regarding House Bill 3048, providing for child representation in the court process. For the complete testimony, please click here.
