Greetings,
During my time as director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), as well my tenures directing three county human services agencies, I have had the opportunity to work with many organizations dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children youth and families. The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) has been at the forefront as a collaborative and effective partner, committed to supporting change.
I have worked with NCYL to improve the supports provided to commercially sexually exploited children, ensure California's child welfare services system is supporting all aspects of well-being of foster youth, and increase inter-agency collaboration at the state and local level; allowing these systems to more effectively support our communities and fulfill our obligation to ensure that children are protected and provided an equitable opportunity to succeed in life. Their expertise, focus on outcomes, and history of elevating youth voice makes them exemplary partners who are grounded in the realities of local implementation and impact.
NCYL has improved the way our public systems meet the needs of our children, youth and families, and in doing so, has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands. I am pleased to recommend them as a sound investment to any funder.
Will Lightbourne
Director, California Department of Social Services
Review from Guidestar
The National Center for Youth Law has long been the voice for low-income children and youth who have been abused, neglected, or challenged with other disadvantages. I have admired how NCYL has used the law to improve the lives of such disadvantaged children and youth. For example, I heard about NCYL’s efforts to help a foster care youth play high school football but was prevented because he had transferred to this school. For foster care students who transfer to many schools, sports is sometimes their only haven. NCYL successfully changed a state policy, so that such foster youth can participate in school sports when they transfer to a new school. This case cemented by admiration for NCYL. NCYL has also successfully reformed entire state foster care systems to protect and improve the lives of foster care children, as well as prevent unnecessary deaths. NCYL has also eliminated barriers to health and mental health care for at-risk youth. What I admired most about NCYL is that it provides hope and resources for children and youth who have no voice of their own to improve policies and laws that impact their lives.