Local nonprofit pairs foster care kids with pro-bono attorneys
Florida is one of 14 states that doesn't guarantee foster children a lawyer during legal proceedings — putting the costs of retaining a lawyer on t...
Florida is one of 14 states that doesn't guarantee foster children a lawyer during legal proceedings — putting the costs of retaining a lawyer on the shoulders of kids or their foster families. To bridge that gap, the Legal Aid of Manasota launched "Legal Lifeline for Youth" in 2019, a program for foster kids in the 12th Judicial Circuit, which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. The initiative pairs an attorney with a foster child to represent them during dependency court proceedings, facilitate conflict resolution, and coordinate placement plans.