CLC Talks Child Representation With BronxTalks
Children deserve to be heard in Family Court—The Children’s Law Center makes sure they are.
Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Bronx Community Foundation, CLC was recently invited to appear on BronxTalk, a long-running talk show tackling a range of social issues in the borough. CLC Executive Director Liberty Aldrich and Children’s Voice Project Fellow Hailey Fletcher joined host Gary Axelbank on April 7th to talk about what real child advocacy looks like.
It’s focused. It’s informed. It’s in the courtroom when it matters most. Because when children’s perspectives and experiences aren’t taken into consideration, no one benefits.
The Need for Representation
As Fletcher and Judge Aldrich discussed, Family Court is high stakes. Especially for children, it can be an overwhelming experience. “They feel disempowered, they feel that they have no control—and that’s already what they’re feeling in their family,” noted Judge Aldrich.
This is where CLC steps in. Through our unique model of child-centered advocacy, we elevate children’s voices in a system built for adults. We listen to our clients. We explain scary-sounding court terminology. And we stay grounded in the realities families face:
“People don’t go to Family Court for fun,” observed Judge Aldrich. “They go because there is domestic violence, mental health challenges, substance abuse…profound struggles within the family.”
CLC’s message to the community is simple: listen to children, then act. “We need to take the time to listen to children in general,” stated Fletcher.
That’s the work CLC leads every day—bringing expertise, credibility, and compassion to Family Court and beyond.
Watch the full episode below.