Dependency and Neglect Cases

The majority of the work of the Children's Law Center attorneys is as guardian ad litem in what are referred to as dependency and neglect cases. When a county department of human services identifies abused or neglected children, it opens a dependency and neglect case. In the counties where we work, we are then appointed to represent and protect the best interest of the children in those cases while they are in Colorado's child protection system.

Our clients are often growing up in foster care, residential treatment facilities or group homes, and our goal is to ensure that this time in state care is as short, stable and healthy as possible. We use a holistic approach to legal representation, addressing our clients' needs in and out of the courtroom. Our clinical consultants work with our attorneys to get clients into permanent homes quickly, to eliminate unnecessary moves from one home to another (and from one school to another), to keep siblings together, and to make sure each child gets the mental health care and educational services to which her or she is entitled.

In 2010, the Children's Law Center represented 510 children in 225 dependency and neglect cases from Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Jefferson and Weld counties. In 85 cases, we helped meet the needs of our clients and move them out of the child welfare system, giving 145 children permanence and stability. Of our clients who found permanency in 2010:

• 61% were reunited with their parents in a healthy, stable home
• 24% found a healthy home with a relative
• 11% found permanent adoptive homes
• 4% emancipated