April 10, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Juvenile Law Center was recognized today as one of only eight organizations in six countries to receive the prestigious, international John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. The award honors non-profit organizations that are highly creative and effective, have made an extraordinary impact in their fields and are helping to address some of the world’s most challenging problems. The Center will receive $500,000 as part of the award.
“From its founding, the MacArthur Foundation has sought out people and organizations that have the creativity, energy and breadth of vision to change the world for the better,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton. “This imaginative and influential small organization has an impact altogether disproportionate to its size. They are addressing problems and injustices, finding fresh solutions, and proving themselves as leaders and innovators.”
Established in 1975 by four Temple Law School graduates, Juvenile Law Center has grown to become one of America’s oldest and most respected public interest law firms, advancing the welfare and needs of society’s most vulnerable citizens: youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The Center advocates for the rule of law to provide a voice for children, ensuring fair, developmentally appropriate solutions through legal advocacy, policy change and public education. Their expertise is now sought by child and legal advocacy groups nationwide.
“When you’re trying to be smart about what you do, you always look for opportunities for public and private partnerships,” said Shay Bilchik, Director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and Systems Integration at Georgetown Public Policy Institute. “You look for the strongest people you can find out there, the strongest organizations. And what you’re going to find in this area is the Juvenile Law Center.”
One recent beneficiary of the Center’s expertise is Lieutenant Commander William Kuebler, United States Navy Office of Military Commissions and Chief Counsel to Omar Khadr, the youngest person ever detained at Guantanamo at the age of 15. “Juvenile Law Center has demonstrated a consistent standard of excellence on some of the most novel and challenging legal issues of our times. Their commitment to the protection of children’s rights and to the rule of law reminds us all of what can and should be done, even when faced by seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” commented LCDR Keubler. “They are an impressive organization to work with and have been an indispensable ally. I am glad to see they have received this much deserved recognition.”
In the 1990’s, most states passed laws to impose increasingly severe sanctions, treat juvenile offenders as adult criminals rather than delinquents, and cut back on rehabilitation and treatment. Juvenile Law Center has been at the forefront of a movement for change, urging states and policymakers to adopt policies which recognize the developmental differences between juveniles and adults. Its goals are to hold the child welfare and juvenile justice systems accountable for both for their performance and the outcomes they produce, to advocate for fair treatment and access to high-quality services, and to include young people in the legal decisions that affect them.
“Juvenile Law Center is an important presence in Pennsylvania. It has been an effective outside advocate and savvy partner,” commented Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell. “JLC makes sure that all of us in government attend to the well-being of our youth.”
“This is a wonderful acknowledgement of JLC’s critical role in transforming the juvenile justice system in this country,” said Donald F. Schwarz, MD, MPH, Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity and Health Commissioner, City of Philadelphia
“In 1975, four ambitious law graduates established the Juvenile Law Center – and they’ve been leading the way in child advocacy ever since,” says Emily Buss, Director of Chicago Policy Initiatives at The University of Chicago Law School. “Over the years, JLC has demonstrated flexibility in its approaches and focus, while remaining true to the experiences and convictions of the young people it represents.”
Although it opened as a general practice for children, Juvenile Law Center now focuses on broader issues of child welfare and juvenile justice reform. It has taken on high-profile class action suits and appellate work, participated in state and national boards and commissions, helped formulate model legislation and standards, and produced influential national publications. Their mantra, Advancing the Rights and Well-being of Children in Jeopardy, is far more than words on paper.
“A lot of foster kids feel like the child welfare system is ‘as good as it gets’ and they shouldn’t expect much more out of life,” said Shaheed Days, Juvenile Law Center Intern and 17 year veteran of the foster care system. “Juvenile Law Center helps kids find their voice, helps them understand that they have a right to be treated fairly, that they can have dreams and productive lives beyond the system. My foster parents and the Juvenile Law Center have inspired me to not only help myself, but to help others and that’s what I intend to do with my life.”
The Center has become a model for other legal child advocacy groups across the nation, helping to change the conversation about juvenile justice, using evidence, reasoned discourse and targeted legal advocacy to show that the harsh treatment of young people is both unjust and ineffectual in promoting successful outcomes. Their work to protect the rights of children in jeopardy continues to change the national landscape.
“I love the Juvenile Law Center,” said Marian Wright-Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund. “They are a long-haul advocate for children with the capacity to stay on the creative edge and tackle the tough issues.”
“We are truly honored to be recognized as a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions,” said Robert Schwartz, Executive Director and Co-founder, Juvenile Law Center. “This award will allow us to strengthen our national policy work, create a more effective strategic communications plan and extend the reach of our work to protect children now and into the future.”