Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC), a Washington State legal services nonprofit organization, has launched an online community-building space for attorneys representing children and youth in dependency and termination cases. The Children and Youth Representation Advocacy Hub (CYRAH), aims to support individual attorneys in Washington, to improve holistic children’s representation statewide, and bolster systemic advocacy efforts to elevate much-needed services and support to young people in the child welfare system.
CYRAH is intended to support the rollout of 2021 legislation, House Bill 1219 , which guarantees youth right to counsel in dependency and termination cases. The State Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is charged with implementing the Children’s Representation Program (CRP) statewide by January 1, 2028. CYRAH will complement this work, and LCYC has consulted with OCLA throughout the project’s development.
CYRAH will support CRP’s expansion by creating an online community space for the growing number of attorneys who will represent children and youth in dependency and termination cases. CYRAH offers a variety of tools to support attorneys including an online resource library, a community forum, and advocacy updates.
CYRAH is supported by an investment from Ballmer Group to expand access to legal aid for youth experiencing homelessness and youth impacted by the child welfare system in Washington State.
Eligible attorneys may sign up to join CYRAH through the website: cyrah.org