The Children's Aid Society

OPPCA Legal Advocacy

The Children's Aid Society's Office of Public Policy and Client Advocacy (OPPCA) provides legal assistance and consultation to support the direct services of Children's Aid staff.

This is done by:

• Providing caseworkers with legal advocacy training that is relevant and critical to their work with children and families.
• Consulting with Children's Aid staff on client families' legal issues and securing legal representation when needed.
• Publishing guides that expand the legal knowledge of staff and families.

OPPCA focuses mainly on legal matters that affect children and families. These include, but are not limited to:

• Low-Income Subsidies including public assistance, Medicaid, food stamps and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
• Immigration and Naturalization assistance.
• Housing issues, including landlord/tenant disputes and ensuring safe living conditions.
• Consumer and Credit Information
• Family Law and Domestic Violence, including access to shelter, protective orders, marriage dissolution and child custody and visitation.
• Education
• Teens, including legal advocacy for former foster care youth.

For more information, e-mail Cathleen Clements, Esq., director of OPPCA, or call (212) 358-8930.