The Support Center for Child Advocates provides legal assistance and social service advocacy to abused and neglected children in Philadelphia County.  Child Advocates is one of the most successful volunteer models serving children in the country.  Since its founding in 1977, the agency has trained more than 2000 attorneys for pro bono services, and they contribute services valued at over $2 million annually. 

All volunteers attend a full day training program including presentations and skill sessions on juvenile law, services planning, interview techniques, and the dynamics of child abuse.  Our training manual How To Handle A Child Abuse Case is provided free to attendees.  Each pro bono attorney is teamed with a staff social worker and assigned one child or sibling group.  The Child Advocate conducts home visits and participates in service planning meetings and court hearings.  Cases typically remain open 2 to 5 years. 

Child Advocates seeks to protect children by securing social services, finding alternative homes and helping them testify in court.  For all of the children committed to our care, we work to ensure safety, health, education, family permanency and access to justice.  Systemically, we promote collaborative, multi-disciplinary casework and solutions to recurrent problems.  For the community, we provide educational programs to increase awareness about the problems of and ways to prevent child abuse.  Whenever possible, Child Advocates seeks to maintain children and families in their own homes.  Respected for diligent and effective advocacy throughout its 26 years of service, Child Advocates attorneys and social workers move public systems to deliver entitled services and private systems to open their doors to needy children and their families. 

Child Advocates legal and social services are offered to child victims in four Core Programs:  a) Child Protection; b)  Medically Needy Children; c)  Kinship Care; and d) Adoption.  Children are referred to Child Advocates by the courts, District Attorney's Office, the Department of Human Services, hospitals, and private social service agencies.  

Special service initiatives include:  Kids 'N Kin: The Caregiving Program, a joint venture with the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children that provides in-home legal and social services to relative caregivers; and Volunteer Attorneys for Medically Needy Children, an advanced volunteer program targeted at children under five with serious medical needs. 

In April 2002, the agency moved to its new, permanent home at 1900 Cherry Street.  The new location provides meeting rooms for children, families and volunteer attorneys, and is close to Family Court.  With projected savings on occupancy costs exceeding $2 million over the next fifteen years, the move ensures Child Advocates’ future and the responsible stewardship of resources.

UNITED WAY DONOR NUMBER 00535
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 9204