SchoolWorks ensures that foster children have an opportunity for educational success. By advocating for our clients within the school system, SchoolWorks attorneys make sure at-risk students are enrolled in school and receiving supports to address academic, emotional, and behavioral needs. By doing so, our clients can achieve improved attendance, academic achievement, and social/behavioral performance, which improve the chances for high school completion for foster children.
The relationship between the student and their lawyer is at the core of the SchoolWorks program. In every case, the young person guides the lawyer’s advocacy. Client-driven advocacy is a hallmark of the program and distinguishes SchoolWorks from private legal practice, where a lawyer represents the student’s parents. The result: SchoolWorks WORKS!
Youth Education Supports (YES)
The SchoolWorks Youth Education Supports (YES) program provides an education attorney and social worker to youth who are committed to Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) custody for correctional or community placement. The goal of the program is to work with youth on their educational and career goals as they transition back into the community, as well as represent them in special education and school discipline proceedings.
The YES program can represent any youth who is transitioning back to Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas counties. The YES program can meet with clients while they are still at the youth correctional facility, other OYA program, or at their community placement, and will continue to work with them for at least a year to ensure the proper educational supports are in place. YES supports clients in both high school/GED programs and also in post-secondary options (trade and college).
Seth Lichenstein-Hill and Josue Gomez make up our YES team providing direct services to clients. Please contact them at seth.lh@youthrightsjustice.org or josue.g@youthrightsjustice.org to make a referral.
SchoolWorks-YES Referral Flier
Parent Advocacy for Student Success (PASS)
The SchoolWorks Parent Advocacy for Student Success (PASS) program serves BIPOC families with children pre-K-5th grade residing in Multnomah County, offering an education attorney to provide pro-bono representation on behalf of individual students and families. PASS also provides workshops and training focused on education law for community partners.
Studies show that early educational experiences from pre-school through third grade set the foundation for future school success. The goal of PASS is to deliver educational advocacy and community training to reduce the achievement gap and dismantle the school to prison pipeline.
The mission of the PASS program is to provide parents and guardians with legal representation in school settings while also providing community members with training to support all students in achieving school success.
For more information, to make a referral for representation, or to learn more about our workshops and trainings, please contact Jawan Mullen at jawan.m@youthrightsjustice.org.