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It has been a busy summer at Child Justice. We have seen an increase in requests for assistance, and our intake team has been working hard to answer the dozens of inquiries we receive each month. While not every request for assistance results in a new client, we give each person our time and attention so that we may determine the best course of action. Top of mind is always the child, or children, behind the request.
In order to receive help from the Child Justice team, a prospective client visits our website at www.child-justice.org and clicks on Request Help in the top right corner. Next, they fill out and submit the online form. This form requests basic information about the family and circumstances that allows our team to run a conflict check. Our intake team typically responds within 24-48 hours.
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In order to receive help from the Child Justice team, a prospective client visits our website at www.child-justice.org and clicks on Request Help in the top right corner. Next, they fill out and submit the online form. This form requests basic information about the family and circumstances that allows our team to run a conflict check. Our intake team typically responds within 24-48 hours. Services may include brief legal advice, information, referral, direct representation, pro se consultation or technical assistance. | |
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Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Updates | |
Did you know that our services are always provided at no cost? Thanks to grants from Victims of Crime Act (VOCA/VOCG), Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), and Montgomery County's Community Grants program, along with private donations from foundations, corporate partners, and supporters like you, we are able to focus on protecting kids rather than billing clients. Every dollar truly helps support our mission.
We are thrilled to announce that Child Justice has been awarded our largest VOCA grant to date for the new fiscal year - $1,582,275 - which will allow our in-house legal team to continue to provide direct services to crime victims in Maryland, and increase the number of caregivers and children we assist. We are grateful to the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy for its commitment to victims of crime.
A new funder in Fiscal Year 2025 is Montgomery County. Through its Community Grants program, Child Justice was awarded $110,995 to support our work in the County. Our main office is located in Silver Spring and more than 35% of our clients are residents of the County. We are excited to begin this new partnership!
For the second year in a row, we are proud recipients of Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) grant funding. The mission of MLSC is to ensure low-income Marylanders have access to stable, efficient and effective civil legal assistance through the distribution of funds to nonprofit legal services organizations. These funds help cover litigation expenses for our low-income clients.
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Become a Monthly Supporter
One of the easiest ways to support Child Justice is to set up a monthly contribution. Whether you donate $5 a month, or $500, your dollars give hope, support, and professional legal advice to caregivers and their children. Set up your monthly donation at: https://child-justice.org/join/donate/ - be sure to click the box "Make this donation monthly." These donations may be cancelled at any time via your donor dashboard and are fully tax-deductible. Annual donations are also very much appreciated!
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Heroes of Child Justice Returns After Six Year Absence | |
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On Saturday, May 18, more than 100 supporters gathered at the private home of Congressman Steny H. Hoyer to celebrate seven key individuals who have played a vital role in the growth and success of Child Justice. More than $110,000 was raised to support our legal services program.
Last held in 2018, Heroes of Child Justice recognizes the individuals that make our mission to protect children from abuse possible. Our awardees received custom made plaques inscribed with a beautiful poem from a past child client. View the digital event program to meet the awardees, read the poem, and learn more about our work throughout Maryland.
A huge thank you to our event sponsors: Dr. Shah of Med Star Health, law firms Dentons and O'Melveny & Myers, and Kaiser Permanente. We are also grateful to Mike B. Photography for providing pro bono photography services, Bootsie & The Groove for an incredible live performance, and Bailey's Catering and Party Rentals for making the event shine despite the rain. We are working on a date for 2025 - stay tuned!
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Pictured from left to right
Congressman Hoyer, Anne Hoyer, Eileen King
& Paul Griffin
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Champion for Children Award
Presented to:
The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer
Congressman Hoyer has consistently demonstrated his outstanding commitment to effective programs that contribute to safety, dignity, and selfhood for victims of child abuse and domestic violence. Too few politicians know how common child abuse is, how many children suffer, the heavy challenges they and their safe parents face in our custody courts, and how the trauma and harm ripple out into our families, communities, and society.
Congressman Hoyer stood strong in support of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 which addressed the steeply falling levels of funding for Crime Victims throughout the United States. Many nonprofits, including Child Justice, would have been severely affected by the anticipated steep cuts to state budgets.
We are grateful to Congressman Hoyer for his longtime support of our mission, and for opening up his home to our guests.
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Honorable
Hero Award
Presented to:
Beth Brent
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Beth Brent’s work between 1988 and 1997 challenging the statute of limitations on claims being made by adult survivors of child sexual abuse was the impetus for the founding of Child Justice. Through her networking, writing and personal testimony she brought attention to the prevalence of child sexual abuse and the inadequacies of the U.S. legal system in protecting children and holding offenders accountable.
Between 1997 and 2015, Beth worked at The Faith and Politics Institute (FPI). In her roles at FPI she worked closely with Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) and Congressman Amo Houghton (R-NY) coordinating the annual Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to Selma, AL on the Anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
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Honorable
Hero Award
Presented to:
Brad Clark
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Brad Clark first became interested in the protection of children when he met Eileen King over 25 years ago. She was then working at Justice for Children. Having children of his own, Brad couldn’t imagine anything much worse than the abuse of children in any form- emotional, physical or sexual. So he became involved as an outsider to this work and quickly realized that what they were doing was actually saving the lives of many vulnerable children.
Though abuse affects children in so many ways through their lives, the act of protecting them early on and removing them from the source of that abuse, gives them the best chance of living a healthy and fruitful life. For Brad, this has become a mission that he is fully behind and in support of.
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Honorable
Hero Award
Presented to:
David Dorey
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While in law school, Dave Dorey ran a clinic dedicated to the protection of children. It's probably no surprise that at the first opportunity at a big law firm he teamed up with Eileen King and Greg Jacob for an eight-day child protection trial in Maryland.
The rest is history: a dozen years later Dave acts as Child Justice's pro bono appellate counsel and is a member of its board of directors.
Dave cares deeply for the welfare of children and helping see to a bright future.
We are grateful for Dave's legal work and commitment to our board!
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Honorable Hero Award
Presented to:
Greg Jacob
| Greg Jacob never took family law in law school—he thought it too depressing—but after his first case with Eileen in 2001, he found an unexpected calling that sparked more than two decades of child protection work. His second case went to Maryland’s highest court and then its legislature, changing child representation law in Maryland. He broke barriers to child protection representation both by federal government and big law firm attorneys, facilitating many fruitful collaborations with Child Justice. From state Supreme Courts to trial courts, Greg cares equally for case, client, and child, and transforming lives through effective counseling and advocacy. | | |
Honorable Hero Award
Presented to:
Claudia Remington
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Claudia M. Remington, J.D. served as the Executive Director of the Maryland State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (SCCAN) from 2010-2022 and currently sits on the board of Maryland Essentials for Childhood (EFC). SCCAN advises Maryland’s Governor and General Assembly on systems’ improvements to prevent, detect, prosecute, and treat child abuse and neglect. In that role she provided consensus-building leadership, research, writing, and organizational support to SCCAN. She continues to facilitate the collaborative work of multiple organizations representing diverse perspectives, sectors, disciplines, and communities through her work with EFC.
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Honorable Hero Award
Presented to:
Garland Waller
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In 2001, filmmaker Garland Waller produced Small Justice, a stunning documentary about how easily abusive fathers obtained custody of their children in the dysfunctional family courts. Her shocking interview with Richard Gardner, the creator of Parental Alienation Syndrome, helped make clear just what “junk” his “science” really was.
Her later documentary No Way Out But One was based on a case she learned about at the Battered Mother’s Custody Conference. It won awards all over the country. Through it all, she says she depended on Eileen King for advice and counsel. “What I got from her, was simple brilliance from a kind heart.”
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