2024 in review
Looking back at last year
In October 2023, CLC’s board appointed Hon. Liberty Aldrich as Executive Director. Judge Aldrich’s first full year has augured in a period of expansion and increased advocacy.
In 2024, the Children’s Law Center (CLC) expanded its impact across New York City, providing holistic legal advocacy to thousands of children navigating the Family Court system. Through interdisciplinary representation, key appellate victories, policy advocacy, and community outreach, we reinforced our commitment to amplifying children’s voices.
Our impact in 2024
- 4,700+ children represented
- 500+ children received essential social work services
- 75% cases achieved the client’s desired outcome
- 33 appellate briefs filed
- 9 staff trainings re-launched under Continuing Legal Education program
- 1,000+ informational materials distributed through Children’s Voice Project
Our Advocacy of Children’s Rights
CLC continued its legacy of shaping family law by filing 33 appellate briefs in 2024.
Notably, Wright v. Burke, 226 A.D.3d 694 (2d Dep’t) and Duran v. Contreras, 227 A.D.3d 1068 (2d Dep’t) secured critical legal protections for children involved in custody and domestic violence cases. These decisions reinforce the importance of independent legal representation for children in Family Court.
CLC took a leading role in addressing the urgent need for Supervised Visitation (SV) services in NYC. We convened a working group of 15 agencies and submitted a formal letter urging improvements in SV programs. In December 2024, CLC Executive Director Liberty Aldrich testified at a New York State Assembly hearing, advocating for expanded and better-funded SV services to protect children’s safety in high-conflict custody cases.
Our Outreach and Partnerships
Our outreach efforts grew in 2024. We engaged over 500 community stakeholders, including judges, policymakers, mental health professionals, and legal practitioners, sharing the vital role of Attorneys for the Child (AFC) and CLC’s practice model.
We are proud to collaborate with leading organizations to enhance resources for families. In 2024, CLC partnered with:
- Justice for Families Program & Center for Justice Innovation — Developing a new fatherhood program to support noncustodial parents
- Safe Horizon — Strengthening Supervised Visitation programs to ensure safe interactions for children
Funding from The New York State Interest on Lawyer Account Fund (IOLA) and the Bullitt Foundation allowed CLC to expand our services across NYC and support better outcomes for the children we represent.
The Children’s Voice Project
With funding from our first-ever NYC Council discretionary grant, we launched the Children’s Voice Project (CVP) to amplify the voices of NYC youth who have been affected by Family Court. CVP is a unique program that focuses on children in custody, visitation, and guardianship cases, unlike other youth leadership boards.
CVP engages and activates youth in Brooklyn, Queens, and now the Bronx, thanks to an award from the Bronx Community Foundation.
In its first year, Children’s Voice Project:
- Produced 4 original materials (booklets, brochures, and informational guides) addressing critical issues for youth in Family Court
- Distributed 1,000+ copies of critically informative materials to children and families navigating the legal system
- Increased awareness of children’s rights and the legal process through direct youth engagement
Our Hopes for 2025
As we reflect on 2024, we are excited, hopeful, and ever committed to our mission of championing the voices of NYC youth.
You can learn more about our priorities and support our mission today.
