The Alliance for Children's Rights is the only non-profit agency in Los Angeles County devoted solely to providing free legal services to children living in poverty both in and out of the foster care system. Through the hard work, passion and dedication of our staff, community volunteers and donors, we have been making the dreams of childhood come true for over a dozen years. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the joy in a child’s eyes when he finally becomes a permanent part of a family, or the tears of gratitude in a mother’s eyes when her sick baby gets the medical care she so desperately needs. And nothing can match the sounds of healthy, happy children playing on a schoolyard, or scrambling for a chance to read aloud in class. These are the triumphs, large and small, that fuel our work.

But there are still more children that need our help. One in three Los Angeles County children lives at or below the federal poverty line. Los Angeles has the nation’s largest foster care system and has thousands of children eligible for adoption. In addition, the Medi-Cal system has become so unwieldy that enrollment lags and there are not enough doctors to care for the most vulnerable children.

Our staff is made up of legal, clinical and social work professionals available to children and families in person or by telephone for advice, referrals and legal assistance. We understand prevailing laws and regulations and can navigate the complex legal and administrative bureaucracies that often deny poor children the support they need.

In addition, we recruit, train and support volunteer attorneys to serve underprivileged children. Our network of private practice lawyers who volunteer their time and expertise to children we help is growing. As a non-profit organization, we rely almost entirely on support from private individuals, foundations and businesses. We are proud of our record of maintaining a low administrative overhead, , currently less than 6%, while continuing to increase the number of children we help.

As you read more about our work keep in mind that without our help, the most vulnerable children in our society would be lost in a downward spiral from which they might never recover. But with the Alliance by their side, they can have a future that is hopeful.

After all, children in poverty deserve what we all want for our own children – a safe permanent home, a good education and access to quality medical care. I thank those of you who have helped us in the past and urge you to continue supporting our work so that the promises we make to children are the promises we keep.