What Are The Cases We Take?

EDUCATION:

Because getting an education is so important in learning skills and becoming self-sufficient, KIDS LEGAL prioritizes education cases. These cases can be either special education or regular education cases. Types of cases we handle include barriers to enrolling in school, poor attendance, discipline, and special education identification and programming.

MEDICAL:

KIDS LEGAL believes it is important for children to receive timely and adequate health care. Because of that belief, KIDS has prioritized MaineCare cases for children and youth.

HOUSING:

Secure, stable and safe housing are important for a child's well-being, both physically and emotionally. In order to protect a child's and teenager's right to safe housing, KIDS has prioritized working on legal issues impacting homeless children and teens as well as advocating for safe housing conditions in rental units.

INCOME / FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Older kids who are on their own will need to be able to provide for themselves. This may be through employment, state or local welfare programs or food stamps. In order to help an older teen become or transition to self-sufficiency, KIDS has prioritized welfare issues for unaccompanied teens.

JUVENILE OFFENSES:

Although minors in Maine are provided with an attorney in a juvenile court matter, there are times when KIDS will become involved in the proceeding in order to assist a juvenile charged with an offense. One project we have involves representing Penobscot Nation youth in juvenile offense matters that are brought in tribal or state court. We also represent homeless youth who access services at Shaw House who have been charged with a juvenile offense as part of a partnership KIDS LEGAL maintains with Shaw House.

FAMILY SAFETY:

Because we focus on the child's rights, our family law cases are limited to those situations when a child is at risk of harm. We will accept protection from abuse cases that are brought in the child's or teenager's name only. We will assist unaccompanied youth who need help as a runaway or with emancipation or guardianship issues. In limited cases, we may be appointed by a court as a child's guardian ad litem. We do not handle divorce or parental rights and responsibility cases for parents.