CLC ED Publishes Vital City Op-Ed on Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
How gaps in Family Court services leave children exposed to harm
CLC’s Executive Director Liberty Aldrich published a new article in Vital City earlier this month examined a critical gap in New York City’s family justice system: thousands of children exposed to domestic violence are not receiving the support they need when their families are not involved with the Administration for Children’s Services. In the piece, Liberty Aldrich explains that while New York City has appropriately moved away from punitive ACS supervision in many domestic violence cases, this shift has left many children without access to essential services such as counseling, supervised visitation, housing support, and legal representation. As a result, children who experience violence at home often remain invisible within the Family Court system. It is imperative that NYC organizations stay involved, as children look to these establishments for help.
Vital City Spotlights a Troubling Truth
Drawing on her experience as a former Bronx Family Court judge and Director of an organization representing more than 5,000 vulnerable children each year, Aldrich calls for solutions that protect children without unnecessary surveillance of families. She urges policymakers to expand community-based and voluntary services, embed resource coordinators within Family Courts, and guarantee a right to counsel for children exposed to domestic violence.
Many parents simply won’t take advantage of services if they think that ACS is lurking around the corner.” This insight reflects how mistrust of punitive systems can act as a barrier to care, reinforcing the need for voluntary, family-centered services that prioritize safety without punishment.
CLC’s recent findings show that fewer than a third of children in Family Court cases involving domestic violence were connected to therapeutic or social services, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform. The article underscores CLC’s ongoing commitment to advancing policy in and out of family court.
Read the article on Vital City and learn more about CLC’s policy work centering children’s safety, while supporting families in crisis.