The Alliance for Children's Rights

To better address the critical needs of the children and families we serve, The Alliance for Children’s Rights has eight major goals:

1. Give a clear and efficient intake and case review process that holistically provides quality services that have measurable outcomes for children.
2. Create mission-driven initiatives that respond to emerging issues impacting poor children. In addition to our core work we will:
   • Secure early intervention services for foster children 0-5 years old at risk of developmental delays;
   • Reduce homelessness of disabled youth aging out of foster care by securing SSI benefits that enable them to have housing and healthcare;
   • Support policies and practices that will enable California foster youth to stay in care until age 21 and be better prepared for the transition to adulthood.
3. Effect system wide improvements to existing child health, education and welfare practices through policy reform, education, training or other methods.
4. Support and empower relatives caring for children in and out of the foster care system. (Kinship Caregivers) who need access to the benefits and services to care for the children they are raising.
5. Form strategic partnerships that complement, support and extend the services we provide to help children thrive.
6. Diversify funding sources and increase volunteer and pro bono support to build sustainability and secure programs for the long-term.
7. Heighten general awareness regarding the Alliance and the children it serves and compel key audiences to respond to the needs of these children.
8. Attract and retain quality staff and a strong and effective Board of Directors.

Objective

With every child and youth reached, the objective is to identify and address their needs in a holistic way, providing all the opportunities and advantages available to them.

Evaluation

The Alliance evaluates each Program based upon these key criteria: 1) the number of children assisted in obtaining the necessary and appropriate benefits and services, 2) the quality of benefits and services obtained for children, 3) the number of pro bono attorneys who accept and complete cases, 4) our ability to educate caregivers, youth, court personnel, social workers, and medical/mental health care providers to self advocate and obtain the correct services and benefits for the children in their care, and 5) client satisfaction.

The Alliance maintains monthly profiles, statistics, and service figures on all children it assists. Collected data includes gender, ethnicity, and geographical region, as well as the legal issues presented. If a case is placed with a volunteer attorney, an Alliance attorney monitors the case’s progress. Through weekly case reviews and monthly reports, we maintain close contact with each case.

Success

Our bi-annual newsletters and quarterly e-newsletters are available on our website. These publications spotlight the issues our clients face and the successes we have achieved on their behalf.