Pegasus Legal Services For Children

Programs: In fiscal year 2016, pegasus attorneys closed over 400 cases in the areas of kinship guardianship, special education, abuse/neglect, family law for young parents, advocacy for homeless/runaway youth. Through these cases, pegasus attorneys provided direct legal representation to almost 1,000 children, youth, caregivers, and parents. Many of these cases resulted in court decisions that created safe and stable homes for children, youth, and young parents and their children. Others were able to access health care and education through the advocacy of pegasus attorneys. Pegasus attorneys educated youth about their rights through presentations and legal clinics. Staff attorneys made presentations on family law to young parents in albuquerque, belen, deming, gallup, ruidoso, santa fe, socorro, and taos. Pegasus attorneys also made numerous presentations to professional who work with children and youth, educating them about the rights of minors to access health care, mental health care, and education on their own, keep their health information confidential, and gain access to public benefits. These presentations were made at conferences such as the childrens law institute where pegasus attorneys presented five different workshops on topics such as special education, medicaid services, and the medicaid developmental disabilities waiver. Through a grant from the con alma health foundation, pegasus developed materials on the rights of children and youth to consent and confidentiality in health care. These materials were distributed to teachers, school-based health centers, and behavioral health agencies across the state. Pegasus attorneys also educated health care professionals about the rights of minors to consent and confidentiality in health care through webinars and live workshops. In addition, pegasus reached thousands of people through its website and through mailings to schools, libraries, state agencies, and courthouses across the state.