Resource Library
PLA Virtual Summit 2023
View the full collection of session recordings from the PLA Virtual Summit 2023, broadcast live on December 15th. The Summit featured twenty-four wonderful presenters across nine great sessions exploring various topics related to the practice of preventive legal advocacy and pre-petition representation.
To view a copy of the Summit Agenda, click here.
To view a copy of session materials and handouts, click here.
PLA / PP Webinars
View videos and webinars exploring the trauma of family separation and the benefits of preventive legal advocacy and pre-petition legal representation.
PLA / PP Presentations
View slide presentations covering various aspects of preventive legal advocacy and pre-petition legal representation.
Resources by Topic
Explore a collection of resources on topics of interest to preventive legal advocacy and pre-petition programs.
Looking for something specific? Materials contained in the Program Resource Library are organized into folders and sub-folders by subject matter. Click on a folder to view the file contents. You may also use the search box on the right to search the library using article titles, category tags, and key words.
Please note that some of the files contained in the “Sample Forms” sub-folder are password protected. If you are working with an existing or emerging PLA program and would like to access these files, you may contact Emilie Cook at etcook2@emory.edu to request access.
* We need your help! We rely on PLA and PP programs to help grow our collection of program materials. If you have resources or program materials that could be added to our Resource Library, please send them to Emilie Cook at etcook2@emory.edu.
PLA & PP Programs by State
Click on the states below for links to active preventive legal advocacy and pre-petition programs and service providers in each jurisdiction. Please note that in addition to the active providers listed below, there are dozens of organizations across the country currently working to develop new PLA/PP programs. If you would like to learn more about pending efforts in a given jurisdiction, you may contact Emilie Cook at etcook2@emory.edu for additional information and research assistance.
Something missing? Let us know! We’re regularly working to identify additional programs, but we need your help. If you’re aware of program that should be listed below and isn’t, please contact Emilie Cook at etcook2@emory.edu
New York
Brooklyn Defenders
pre-petition defense
Center for Family Representation
pre-petition defense
CUNY Family Law Defense Clinic
pre-petition defense
Eire County of New York, Assigned Counsel Program
pre-petition hotline
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
pre-petition defense
Neighborhood Defender Services
pre-petition defense
NYU Family Defense Clinic
pre-petition defense in partnership with Brooklyn Defender Services
The Bronx Defenders
pre-petition defense
Maryland
Maryland Office of the Public Defender
PLA / pre-petition hybrid program
Washington DC
Mother’s Outreach Network
PLA / pre-petition hybrid program
Pennsylvania
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
pre-petition defense
HELP:MLP
PLA program
Ohio
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc.
multiple PLA programs
Cuyahoga Office of the Public Defender
pre-petition defense
Erie County Public Defender
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
Stark County BUILD Program
pre-petition representation
The Medical Legal Partnership for Children – Toledo
PLA program
Michigan
Lakeshore Legal Aid
PLA services
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan
PLA/ pre-petition hybrid
Legal Services of South Central Michigan (Ypsilanti)
PLA/pre-petition hybrid
Illinois
Ascend Justice Family Defense Center
pre-petition defense program
Legal Aid Chicago
PLA/pre-petition hybrid
Moran Center for Youth Advocacy
PLA services
Iowa
Iowa Legal Aid
Multi-county PLA/pre-petition hybrid in partnership with Iowa Public Defender’s Office
Kansas
Kansas Kids2Kin
Statewide PLA program
KLS Parent Advocate Program
pre-petition defense
Oklahoma
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.
PLA program in partnership with DHS
She Still Rises Tulsa
PLA & PP services
Texas
Central Texas Parent Advocacy Group
PLA & pre-petition services
Foster Care Advocacy Center
PLA & pre-petition services
Texas Legal Services Center
pre-petition Family Helpline
Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid
pre-petition defense
Colorado
Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel
PLA program
Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center
PLA services
Arizona
Maricopa County Public Defense Services
dependency prevention pilot
Pima County PD Family Preservation Clinic
pre-petition defense services
California
A New Way of Life
PLA services
Berkley Law Family Defense Project
pre-petition defense
CLC Pre-filing Representation Project
pre-petition defense
DAC Corridor Program
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
DAC First Call for Families
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
East Bay Family Defenders
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
Family Support & Advocacy Center
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
Legal Assistance for Seniors
PLA services
Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers
pre-petition Parent Helpline
Oregon
Metropolitan Public Defender
pre-petition services
Youth, Rights & Justice
pre-petition defense program
Washington
Central Washington Legal Services
new pilot, more info pending
F.I.R.S.T. Clinic
pre-petition defense MLP
Trauma Prevention Specialists of Whatcom and Skagit County
pre-petition defense
VPA Hotline
Pre-petition guidance (Voluntary Placement Agreement)
Massachusetts
Family Preservation Project
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
Greater Boston Legal Services
Limited pre-petition defense
Harvard Family Justice Clinic
pre-petition defense
Metro-West Legal Services
Limited pre-petition defense
South Coastal Counties Legal Services
Limited pre-petition defense
New Jersey
LSNJ Family Representation Project
PLA/pre-petition hybrid program
Vermont
Vermont Parent Representation Center, Inc.
pre-petition defense services
Hawaii
Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawaii
PLA services
Florida
New Pre-petition pilot serving Hillsborough County – details forthcoming
Georgia
Standing With Our Neighbors
Limited PLA services
Indiana
Child Advocates MLP
* New Indianapolis MLP/PLA program pending
Minnesota
Hennepin County Adult Representation Services
PLA/pre-petition defense program
Nebraska
Legal Aid of Nebraska
PLA services
Virginia
Child Advocacy Clinic
limited PLA services in partnership with Legal Aid Justice Center
Legal Aid Justice Center
PLA and pre-petition services
Wisconsin
Family Legal Advocacy & Supports Clinic
PLA program
Nevada
No active programs identified at this time.
Alaska
Kin Support Program -Haa Yaitx’u Saiani
PLA / Pre-Petition Hybrid serving Kin
Idaho
No active programs identified at this time.
Montana
No active programs identified at this time.
Wyoming
No active programs identified at this time.
North Dakota
Pre-petition Representation Pilot Program -Burleigh County
pre-petition services
South Dakota
No active programs identified at this time.
Louisiana
My Community Cares
PLA Services provided through 9 community organizations across the state
Arkansas
Legal Aid of Arkansas
PLA services
Mississippi
No active programs identified at this time.
Tennessee
No active programs identified at this time.
North Carolina
Pisgah Legal Services
New program in development
Kentucky
No active programs identified at this time.
South Carolina
CHAMPS Clinic
PLA MLP Program
West Virginia
Child & Family Advocacy Clinic
MLP providing PLA services
Connecticut
CCA Medical Legal Partnership
MLP/PLA program
Rhode Island
No active programs identified at this time.
New Hampshire
No active programs identified at this time.
Maine
No active programs identified at this time.
New Mexico
No active programs identified at this time.
Utah
No active programs identified at this time.
Missouri
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
PLA services
Legal Aid of Western Missouri
PLA services
Legal Services of Southern Missouri
PLA services
Alabama
No active programs identified at this time.
Delaware
No active programs identified at this time.
Learning Center
Join the PLA/PP National Cohort
Interested in learning more about the Cohort? Please fill out the adjacent form to join. While we’re always excited to welcome new programs to the group, you don’t have to be part of an existing PLA/PP program to participate in the Cohort. The Cohort is intended to serve as a free resource for any stakeholders interested in learning more about early legal advocacy and its capacity to prevent unnecessary family separation. For questions about the Cohort, please e-mail Emilie Cook at etcook2@emory.edu.