Children’s Law Center

Open navigation menu. Close navigation menu.
Donate Get Help Ayuda

All Hands on Deck

Children’s Law Center has advocated for DC children for nearly 30 years. Ensure DC children do not get left behind as federal changes impact our local budget.

Give Today

Fighting for DC kids

Every child deserves to have a stable family, good health, a quality education and to live in a world in which racism, trauma and poverty are eliminated as barriers to success.

Who We Are

We help the DC community by:

A stable family is a critical building block for a child’s success. We are appointed by judges in the District court to represent children in foster care or when caregivers are disputing custody.

Our Impact: Family
Young woman holding laptop in front of school building

"My Children’s Law Center lawyer is my hero. I wouldn’t have been able to afford my tuition without his help." - Tala

“Not all heroes wear capes – but suits!”

Some problems can’t be fixed by medicine alone. Our lawyers work side-by-side with pediatricians to find and fix the root causes of a child’s health problem.

Our Impact: Health
Portrait photo outdoors of mother and daughter smiling at camera with arms around each other's shoulders.

"Ms. J is so passionate about advocating for her daughter and for other families in similar situations." - Lacia Japp

A Bittersweet Victory

Every child can learn if they are in the right educational setting. This is especially important for students with disabilities. Our lawyers work with the parents and school to get a child’s education back on the right path.

Our Impact: Education
Black elementary student smiling in classroom, sitting at a desk and looking at a handheld electronic tablet.

“Once our Children's Law Center lawyer Sarah got into our life – snap – things started changing for the better.” - Ms. Johnson

She wasn’t going to let the system fail her daughter

We partner with District agencies, the DC Council and community organizations to find and implement city-wide solutions and systemic changes that benefit all DC kids. When necessary, we use other legal tools – like class action lawsuits – to bring about systemic reforms.

Our Impact: Systemic Reform
Image of DC School Bus

Parents and guardians of students with disabilities file lawsuit seeking safe, reliable and effective transportation for their children.

The District Fails to Provide Transportation for Students with Disabilities
Smiling child surrounded by abstract shapes.

2024 Annual Report

Our work in 2024 built upon nearly three decades of experience. With the longstanding support of thousands of donors, thought partners and visionary leaders, we met the changing needs of more than 5,000 children and families. We expanded our reach through new partnerships, increased our impact through innovative legal approaches and continued to make a difference, child by child and family by family.

Ways to Give

Children’s Law Center depends on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations to make our work possible. As a result of their support, we are able to continue fighting – and winning – for thousands of DC children and families.

Support Our Work

Our Team

All Team Members