Barton Center

The Emory Summer Child Advocacy Program (ESCAP) is a partnership between Emory University and the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to (1) provide students with a hands-on learning opportunity in the field of child advocacy, and (2) to provide child advocacy professionals with the benefits of student interns during the summer months. ESCAP began in 1992 under the leadership of Jan Pratt and Anita Mann as a program for Emory University students. In 2000, the program expanded to include students from around the country and moved under the auspices of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center.

Students receive a summer stipend to work with judges, lawyers, DFCS professionals, or nonprofit organizations for ten weeks. Ten to fifteen students are selected from law and other graduate programs around the country. Barton Center faculty members and community partners provide an initial week of intensive training for ESCAP students. An additional 20-35 interns and professionals working in the child advocacy field participate in the training each year through a special arrangement between the Barton Center and the partner organizations.