2021 ANNUAL REPORT Youth, Rights & Justice advances the rights of children, parents, and families through advocacy in the courts, schools, legislature, and community.

“I had a client tell me, ‘You are the first person who has ever stood up for me in my entire life.’”

Liz Sher, YRJ Staff Attorney

Youth, Rights & Justice is Oregon’s only public defense office focused exclusively on the practice of juvenile law, representing children and parents in the juvenile court system. We maintain both trial and appeals departments, a unique combination that gives trial lawyers access to in-house legal experts while also supporting strategies to develop case law that advances the rights of our clients. Each year, we represent over 1,100 children and parents involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

We are client-centered defenders, working in collaboration with our clients to advocate for their legal needs while also addressing other barriers. We focus on the whole client, integrating social workers, experts, and investigators to better assess and serve client needs. YRJ is community-based, serving as a legal resource across the state, developing our own programs, leveraging partnerships, and pushing for system improvements that benefit our clients and our community.

We recognize that racism and bias permeate our justice system, that we bear responsibility for this ongoing injustice, and that we must take steps to address it. For children and parents of color, talking about the reality of race and injustice throughout the life of a case is a critical piece of client-centered advocacy. We continue to educate ourselves by attending specialized trainings and work to fight racially-biased decision-making.

Youth, Rights & Justice attorneys and staff blend zealous defense with a compassionate, client-centered approach, which allows us to advance the rights of our clients while supporting them in achieving their hopes for the future.

• YRJ’s public defense work is funded through the Office of Public Defense Services.
• In Oregon, Black youth are three times as likely as white youth to be referred to the Juvenile Justice System. Research shows that their juvenile records are more debilitating than the records of their white peers.
• Children and families of color are over-represented in Oregon’s foster care system and 45% of YRJ clients are children of color. While foster care can be a necessary intervention, it is not without significant harm to children and families.

“Being the person that bridges gaps between services and systems, and trying to do things in the most trauma-informed way, we run up against a lot of barriers. Part of the job is trying to find creative ways to overcome them.”

Tara Knight, YRJ Case Manager

The integration of case managers into our legal practice has transformed the way that we serve clients, leading to better outcomes for kids and families. Last year we added two in-house social workers (also known as case managers) to our legal team.

Case managers work as part of the legal defense team, which means that their relationship with the client is confidential, unlike that of a service provider or DHS caseworker. This distinction is important, because it creates the space for a trusting relationship and reassures clients that the case manager works only on their behalf. As a part of the defense team, a case manager may resolve an issue related to a client’s legal case—for example, a parent who has had a child removed from their care due to housing instability may work with a case manager to secure stable housing so that their family can be reunited.

Studies have shown that multidisciplinary legal practice leads to beneficial outcomes for families involved in the child welfare system, including less time spent in foster care through faster family reunification.

Whether helping a client solve transportation issues, locating a treatment provider, or coaching a client through a difficult conversation with a DHS caseworker, our case managers provide vital support to help clients achieve their goals. We have seen firsthand how case managers help clients find stability and success.

• Case managers are funded through the Parent Child Representation Program (PCRP) from the Office of Public Defense Services.
• Over the course of the last year, YRJ’s case managers have served almost 80 clients.

“The benefits of interdisciplinary representation are being felt by our clients, our office and the juvenile court as a whole.”

Jennifer McGowan, YRJ Supervising Attorney

“Youth who have successfully participated in accountability and rehabilitative programs offered in juvenile justice systems should have the opportunity to be productive community members. Expunction plays an important part in that opportunity.”

Lisa Kay Williams, Supervising Attorney

All youth deserve a clean slate and a fresh start. Embracing this philosophy, Youth, Rights & Justice launched Oregon’s first juvenile Expunction Clinic this summer. This free online clinic focuses on increasing access to expungement for individuals with juvenile records.

In Oregon, when youth have contact with law enforcement or the juvenile court, paper and electronic records are created. Information in these records is publicly available. For many, a juvenile record can cause the loss of future employment and educational opportunities, or an inability to obtain housing or enlist in the military. Expunction, or expungement, is the process of sealing or destroying those records. Access to expunction is vital for those seeking to move past their childhood mistakes and grow into contributing community members.

In order to promote the clinic, staff mailed over 200 letters to former YRJ clients to encourage individuals to submit their application for assistance. Expunction Clinic Manager April Brix said, “The launch was a flurry of activity as we started receiving requests from potential expunction clients and from the media alike. We all felt it was such a busy and successful launch!”

YRJ is hopeful that with the launch of this clinic, many people in our community will gain the fresh start that is so needed for their success and the success of their families. For more information on the clinic, check out bit.ly/expunctionrequest.

• This clinic is funded by the Justice Action Network (JAN). Thank you to JAN for their generous support.
• YRJ plans to expand to a statewide clinic in 2022.
• Juvenile records can limit access to college and influence school enrollment decisions. Even arrest records can appear on criminal history checks, limiting employment and professional opportunities.

Photo: April Brix, YRJ Paralegal and Expunction Clinic Manager

“We challenged our ideas about ourselves and our organization, and that can be uncomfortable to say the least. I’m hopeful to see what comes from the implementation of our initiatives. The changes we enact could result in better outcomes for clients across the board and happier, healthier employees.”

Vashti Nikuosokhan, YRJ Legal Assistant

This year, Youth, Rights & Justice embarked on a rigorous, equity-based strategic planning process. As a result of this work, we are pleased to announce our board-approved strategic plan for 2021-2025.YRJ is excited to begin implementation of our strategic priorities, including our new mission, vision, and values. The key imperatives of the Strategic Plan are to:

• Enhance our Advocacy Capacity,
• Enhance our Legislative and Policy Work, and
• Rebuild our Internal Culture.

Vision: We envision a just and equitable society that creates opportunities for children, parents, and families to imagine and achieve their aspirations.

Mission: Youth, Rights & Justice advances the rights of children, parents, and families through advocacy in the courts, schools, legislature, and community.

Values: Our work is grounded in the belief that our clients are at the center of all that we do. Our values guide our interactions, decisions, goals, and strategy. They serve as the touchstone for open communication in the office, with clients, and in the community.

• Collaboration
• Equity
• Openness
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Agility

For the full version of our strategic plan, visit youthrightsjustice.org/strategic-plan