named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Attorneys for the Child
Provides legal representation to children in Family Court, advocating for their stated positions in custody, visitation, abuse/neglect, and other family law cases.
Children’s Voice Project
Youth-led community engagement initiative that trains former clients to create educational materials, lead workshops, and advocate for policy changes to improve Family Court for children.
Clinical Practice
In-house therapy program in The Bronx providing trauma-focused mental health services to children and youth (ages 3–21) who are victims of crime, neglect, or domestic violence, using evidence-based models like TF-CBT and EMDR.
Integrated Domestic Violence Court Practice
Represents children aged 11–21 in obtaining Orders of Protection in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
Social Work Support
Offers trauma-informed social work services including mental health referrals, education advocacy (e.g., securing IEPs), and connections to government support, with confidentiality protected by attorney-client privilege.
Youth Guardianship Project
Helps migrant youth under 21 secure Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and legal guardianship in Family Court when returning to their home country is not in their best interest.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Family and Juvenile Legal Defense 3 activities
- Appellate litigation and policy advocacyEngages in impact litigation, files appellate briefs, and conducts strategic legal research to influence New York family law and improve children's rights. The organization has litigated over 1,000 appeals since inception, filed 33 appellate briefs in 2024 and 35 in 2025, and uses expert testimony, law review publications, and national presentations to shape policy and judicial decision-making.
- Legal representation in family court casesProvides trauma-informed, child-focused legal representation for children and youth in New York City Family Court and Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Parts of Supreme Court, handling cases involving custody, visitation, guardianship, domestic violence, child protective matters, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). The organization serves approximately 5,000–8,400 children annually, with evidence of representing over 135,000 children since 1997 and achieving favorable legal outcomes in over 75% of cases.
- Social work advocacy and case coordinationProvides integrated social work support that collaborates with legal teams to advocate for children’s education, mental health, and overall well-being within Family Court cases. This includes ongoing services for approximately 300 children per month.
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Direct Mental Health Counseling and Support Services 1 activity
- Clinical and therapeutic support servicesOffers trauma-informed, evidence-based psychotherapy and brief mental health consultations to children and teens (ages 3–21) involved in Family Court proceedings, particularly those affected by crime, neglect, or domestic violence. Services are delivered through an in-house Clinical Practice in The Bronx and include standardized assessments to monitor progress and outcomes.
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Child Welfare Professional Training & Capacity Building 1 activity
- Professional training and capacity buildingTrains and mentors legal and social work professionals through Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs, pro bono attorney recruitment, and best-practice trainings in child advocacy. In 2024, hosted 9 CLE trainings; in 2025, recruited and trained 3 youth fellows and presented at national conferences including the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) legal servicesRepresents unaccompanied migrant youth in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases to secure legal protections and immigration relief. Since September 2025, the organization has represented over 200 young migrants and secured SIJS orders for dozens.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Youth empowerment and educational outreachEmpowers court-involved youth through the Children’s Voice Project, launched in 2024, which enables youth to share experiences and advocate for systemic change. Distributes educational materials—including a video series titled “Court Smart” and informational pamphlets—and conducts workshops such as “Know Your Rights in Family Court” in partnership with organizations like Global Kids. Over 1,000 copies of materials were distributed in 2024 and 2025.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.00M
Contributions & grants$10.91M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$30K0%
Other revenue$61K
expenses
Total expenses$10.95M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$7.72M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$13.91M
Cash$1.31M
Investments$0
Liabilities$14.27M
Net assets$-356K
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +5.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HON Liberty Aldrich | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $248K |
| Deana Tietjen | CO-DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $193K |
| Janet Neustaetter | DIR. OF APPEALS AND WRITING | 40 | $182K |
| William Booth Jr | BOROUGH DIRECTOR | 40 | $174K |
| JoAnna Kelly | Borough Director | 40 | $164K |
| Iman Akbar | ATTORNEY | 40 | $162K |
board members · 15
- Abby West — BOARD MEMBER
- Adam Lester — BOARD MEMBER
- Chris Rizzo Esq — BOARD MEMBER
- Elizabeth Childs — Secretary
- Emmanuel Onyeukwu — BOARD MEMBER
- Hon Carol R Sherman — Vice President
- Jennifer Saba PhD — BOARD MEMBER
- Laurie McPherson — President
- Marc A Mandelman Esq — BOARD MEMBER
- Peggy C May — BOARD MEMBER
- Sang Lee — BOARD MEMBER
- Stephanie Perry — Treasurer
- Stephen Rinehart Esq — BOARD MEMBER
- Steven H Holinstat — BOARD MEMBER
- Ted Bunch — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Attorneys for the Child (AFC) Partner — Collaborates with Attorneys for the Child in a joint legal and social work model to represent children in Family Court.
- Bronx Community Foundation Funder — Provided new funding that enabled the expansion of the Children’s Voice Project to the Bronx.
- Family Court Government — Appoints CLC attorneys to represent children in cases.
- Family Court Government — Primary legal system in which CLC conducts advocacy and representation for children.
- Family Court Government — Primary legal venue where the organization represents children in custody, visitation, and domestic violence cases.
- Family Court Government — Provides therapy services to children involved in Family Court proceedings in New York City.
- Global Kids Partner — Collaborated to deliver a "Know Your Rights in Family Court" workshop for high school students in The Bronx
- Instagram Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and communication
- Instagram Partner — Social media platform used for outreach and engagement
- Instagram Partner — Social media platform used for public engagement and outreach
- Integrated Domestic Violence Parts Government — Assigns CLC to represent children in integrated domestic violence cases in New York City.
- LinkedIn Partner — Professional network used for organizational visibility and engagement
- LinkedIn Partner — Professional network used for organizational visibility and recruitment
- The Children's Law Center New York Network — Identified as the full legal name of the organization operating as CLC.
- University of Toronto Partner — Research compiled by Dr. Michael Saini, Professor and Factor-Inwentash Chair in Law and Social Work at the University of Toronto, supports CLC's advocacy work.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Interdisciplinary Legal and Social Work Advocacymethodology: interdisciplinary_representationBy pairing attorneys with social workers in legal representation, we produce more holistic and effective advocacy for children, because addressing both legal and psychosocial needs leads to improved safety, stability, and client-centered outcomes.
- Systemic Legal Reform Through Multi-Channel Advocacymethodology: systemic_changeBy combining policy advocacy, appellate litigation, and legal education, we advance systemic change in family law, because sustained reform requires shifting laws, precedents, and professional practices simultaneously.
- Trauma-Informed Integrated Care Modelmethodology: trauma_informed_careBy integrating trauma-informed therapy and legal services, we reduce harm and support healing in child clients, because concurrent treatment of emotional trauma and legal challenges addresses the full impact of family conflict and court involvement.
- Youth-Led and Peer-Powered Advocacymethodology: peer_powered_advocacyBy engaging youth with lived experience in Family Court to lead education and advocacy efforts, we increase empowerment and accessibility for current clients, because peer-to-peer models build trust, relevance, and authentic voice in systemic reform.