NYCLA Supports the Proposal of State Senate Judiciary Chair Hoylman-Sigal and Families Committee Chair Hevesi to Increase the Office of Indigent Legal Services to Provide Parental Representation

NYCLA and its Family Courts Committee were pleased to see that State Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) and Assembly Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens) have endorsed a proposal to significantly increase the Office of Indigent Legal Services’ budget for parental representation in Family Court cases in the State’s budget for the next fiscal year.

“Improved representation of parents in child abuse and neglect proceedings is a win-win situation,” said David Lansner, Chair of NYCLA’s Family Courts Committee.  “The model used by the parent defense programs in New York City, Monroe, and Westchester Counties has been shown to be very effective,” said Mr. Lansner.  “The programs use a collaborative approach, with a team of attorneys, a social worker, and a parent advocate.  By having the resources to conduct full investigations and provide vigorous defense, and arranging for services for families when needed, the defense programs have been able to show that the children are not in danger and do not need to be, or remain, removed from their homes.”  The programs also assist families to obtain benefits they may be entitled to and to avoid eviction and homelessness.  “As a result, fewer children are placed in foster care, and those that are placed are returned sooner.  The children are spared the trauma of removal from their homes and families, the unfortunate mistreatment that occurs in some foster homes, and the family is strengthened,” Mr. Lansner said.  The social services district avoids the expensive costs of foster care and can place investigators on the cases that require their attention.  The amounts saved are far in excess of the cost of the representation.

We applaud Mr. Hoylman-Sigal’s and Mr. Hevesi’s support, and the support of all 25 members of the State Legislature who joined in that support in a letter to Governor Hochul.

About the New York County Lawyers Association

The New York County Lawyers Association (www.nycla.org) was founded in 1908 as one of the first major bar associations in the country that admitted members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. Since its inception, it has pioneered some of the most far-reaching and tangible reforms in American jurisprudence and has continuously played an active role in legal developments and public policy.

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This statement was approved for publication by the NYCLA Officers and NYCLA’s Family Courts Committee. This statement has not been approved by the NYCLA Board of Directors and does not necessarily represent the views of the Board.