Representing Youth in Crisis

Legal Services for Children deeply believes that every youth deserves to grow up feeling safe and nurtured. Unfortunately, there are many cases, all too often traumatic, where a child is left without a parent or guardian, and their road ahead looks to be turbulent, unpredictable, and frightening. This is where the nonprofit Legal Services for Children (LSC) steps in to fiercely advocate for children and youth who require legal assistance to stabilize their lives and realize their full potential. All at no cost. 

LSC believes in “empowering children to make their own decisions,” says Joyce Lupack, the development director at LSC. This is why LSC doesn’t advocate for what they believe is their clients’ “best interests.” In cases where a child is left without a parent guardian, adults typically decide what’s in the child’s “best interest.” At LSC, they work through the options in an age-appropriate way with their young clients so youth can decide what’s best for themselves. “We respect that kids are experts in their own lives,” says Lupack. 

Fifty years ago, the organization was founded so that youth in crisis could be represented by attorney-social worker teams – filling a much-needed gap in the community. At its inception, it was one of the first youth law firms in the country and one of the first to pair social workers and legal advocates, which is now the gold standard for youth representation. Today, LSC stands out from similar organizations because it provides a wide range of therapeutic care, says Lupack. 

Through school counselors, a hotline, and referrals, the organization connects with youth in need in the Bay Area. “We work with children and youth who are in crisis in the Bay Area, most of whom don’t have the support of their parents,” shares Cathy Sakimura, an attorney and the executive director of LSC. The nonprofit’s impact is best demonstrated by its many success stories of children who have benefited from its programs. 

Lupack recalls one child who had no father and whose mother was dying of cancer. LSC worked with her to determine who she would like to take care of her after her mother passed. The client had a pet that she didn’t want to part with, and with the help of LSC, she found a guardian who would also allow her to bring along her beloved animal. This is the ideal outcome for LSC – a solution where the child’s wishes are respected, their life is stabilized, and healing becomes possible.   

In 2025, the organization hopes to focus on its Guardianship Program, which helps children who cannot live with their parents find adult caregivers. Additionally, the organization continues to focus on representing children in foster care, education, and undocumented children who are in this country without their parents, including children who are in immigration detention centers. 

At LSC, their client-centered, holistic approach guides today’s youth so they can thrive in their community and beyond. 

“The individual impact on each young person is tremendous and has a ripple effect in their communities,” says Sakimura.