Youth, Rights & Justice
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Mission Statement
Youth, Rights & Justice advances the rights of children, parents, and families through advocacy in the courts, schools, legislature, and community.
About This Cause
Youth, Rights & Justice (YRJ) is dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and families through legal representation and advocacy in the courts, legislature, schools, and community. We strive to keep children in school, out of trouble, and at home. Since our founding in 1975 as a program of Multnomah County Legal Aid Services, YRJ has represented over 25,000 children and parents in the juvenile court system. In 1985, we became an independent non-profit law firm. Today, YRJ consists of a team of 35 attorneys, legal assistants and other specialists who provide legal representation, impact (class action) litigation, and public policy advocacy. As a public defense firm, YRJ is court-appointed to represent children in foster care, parents whose children have been removed from the household, and youth in the juvenile justice system. This work is funded by a contract with the state’s Office of Public Defense Services. YRJ’s public policy and SchoolWorks programs are funded entirely through non-public sources, including grants, special events, and individual giving. At the heart of our work are the positive outcomes that we have achieved for our individual clients. Since our founding, YRJ has had countless victories that have helped children find their forever homes, ensured students succeeded in school, provided youth with a fair trial and a second chance, and allowed families to safely reunite. Our clients are overwhelmingly from poor and low-income families. All have been deemed “indigent” by the court system, and they qualify for free representation in court as a result. More than one-third have an identified disability that qualifies them for special education; however, a larger percentage have a diagnosed mental or emotional disorder. Approximately 45% of our clients are children of color. Our work as attorneys for children, youth, and parents in the court system primarily serves the Portland metro area; our legislative advocacy and impact litigation affect vulnerable children and families throughout the state; and our SchoolWorks program serves children and youth primarily in Multnomah county and some in neighboring counties.