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

PLA & PP Programs by State
New York Maryland Washington DC Pennsylvania Ohio Michigan Illinois Iowa Kansas Oklahoma Texas Colorado Arizona California Oregon Washington Massachusetts New Jersey Vermont Hawaii Florida Georgia Indiana Minnesota Nebraska Virginia Wisconsin Nevada Alaska Idaho Montana Wyoming North Dakota South Dakota Louisiana Arkansas Mississippi Tennessee North Carolina Kentucky South Carolina West Virginia Connecticut Rhode Island New Hampshire Maine New Mexico Utah Missouri Alabama Delaware

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

Michigan

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

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

Florida

New Pre-petition pilot serving Hennepin 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

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.

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

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.

Alabama

No active programs identified at this time.

Delaware

No active programs identified at this time.

Learning Center

Program Spotlights

Explore the groundbreaking work of early legal advocacy programs across the country

PLA National Cohort

Learn more about the National Cohort and how we support existing and emerging programs

Principles & Components

Review the principles and components of effective early legal advocacy

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. 

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