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Who We Are

If you ask any of the 50,000 children and families we’ve worked with since our founding in 1996, they will tell you: We are problem solvers.
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We help children and families tackle seemingly insurmountable problems.

On any given day, we help hundreds of children solve problems that no child should face. No child should have to wait months to meet with a therapist who can treat their depression. No grandparent should be without support when they step in to take care of their grandchild. No student should have to fight for the special education services she needs to learn. No parent should have to go to court to ensure their landlord fixes the moldy floor that is sending their child with asthma to the ER.

Together with DC children and families, community partners and pro bono attorneys, we use the law to solve children’s urgent problems today and improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow. Since our founding in 1996, we have reached more than 60,000 children and families directly and multiplied our impact by advocating for city-wide solutions that benefit hundreds of thousands more.

60,000+ children and families reached since 1996

Over 100 tenacious staff including lawyers, social workers and investigators who get results for kids

Thousands of donors, board members and pro bono lawyers who support our work

30 Years of Tenacity, Innovation and Impact

Our partners and supporters help us reach even more children and families:

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    Pro Bono Supporters
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    Donors
  • Fair Budget Coalition advocacy action in front of the John A. Wilson building.
    Advocacy Partners

DC’s leaders and professionals turn to us to get results:

  • Judges

    Each year, the judges of DC Superior Court appoint us to represent many hundreds of children who were abused or neglected or whose caregivers are disputing custody.

  • Pediatricians

    Pediatricians, nurses and social workers in six community health centers turn to us to help identify and resolve the root causes of their children patients’ health problems.

  • DC Government

    The Mayor, District agencies and the DC Council look to us to develop citywide recommendations that ensure policies, programs and funding meet the needs of all District children.

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Children & Families

We are honored to share the lived experiences of the children and families with whom we work — their determination, tenacity and self-advocacy are essential to everything we do. Read their stories.

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2025 Annual Report

In 2025, DC families felt the deep effects of local and federal budget cuts, furloughs and job losses. Add to that a federal occupation and threats to DC’s home rule, it was – and continues to be – a challenging time. But 2025 was also a year of rapid response and problem solving.

Meet our Boards

Our Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Emeritus Board ensure that Children’s Law Center remains at the forefront in providing legal and systemic advocacy to DC’s children and families.

Our Boards

Our Staff

All Team Members